Amobi Ogar, a member of the House of Representatives representing Isuikwuato /Umunneochi Federal constituency, Abia State, Southeast Nigeria says people are now being kidnapped for as low as N30,000 in his constituency.
Ogar, a younger brother of chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development Uche Ogar, decried the rampant cases of kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes in his federal constituency, adding that people’s homes were being invaded to pick persons in demand for ransom as low as N30,000 (about $39).
The Labour Party member, on Thursday after presenting a motion on the development at plenary, said the primary purpose of government is the protection of the lives and property of citizens, according to a report by DailyTrust.
“Today, I moved a motion over incessant attacks on my people (constituents). Kidnapping has become like ‘akara’ (bean cake) business in my constituency.
“People are kidnapped almost every day. Not one, two or three. To the extent that they (abductors) are now going to people’s homes to carry them at ransoms of N50,000, N30,000.
“It is now a serious issue for me to move it on the floor of the house so that Nigerians will hear. As I speak, a lot of villagers have fled their homes, even our mothers don’t go to farms anymore,” he said.
Daily Trust reports that the House of Representatives while adopting Ogar’s motion, urged President Bola Tinubu to direct all the security agencies to ensure security around Regional Cattle Market in Lokpanta along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, Uturu-Okigwe Road, Ihube-Isuochi Road, ABSU Junction-Akara Road; Uturu-Afikpo Road, Umuaku-Umunze Road and Awgu-Ishiagu Road and their environs where the kidnappers have converted to their safe haven.
The House directed the Chief of Army Staff, Inspector General of Police and Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to set up a joint patrol team to comb farmland and forests to root out kidnappers, bandits and all criminal elements in all parts of Isuikwuato and Umunneochi local government areas of Abia State.
Truetells Nigeria had reported that kidnappers suspected to be herdsmen in collaboration with some rogue security personnel have taken over Southeast roads.
Last week soldiers from 82 Division of the Nigerian Army allegedly aiding kidnappers killed members of the Enugu State Neighbourhood Watch Group, who were responding to a distress call.
Four other victims of the military attack are still in critical condition in hospital while the Nigerian Army has dismissed the attack, calling the victims criminals.