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Imo State is back again in the jaws of kidnappers and at least 10 cases are recorded weekly

In Imo state, the fear of kidnappers is the beginning of wisdom.  In the past two months, people of the state have been living in great fear and anxiety following an unprecedented upsurge in criminal activities, especially kidnapping. The state that parades itself as Eastern Heartland has literally been reduced to ‘heartland of kidnapping.’

The menace has grown in leaps and bounds, with an average record of 10 cases per week.  Indeed, a syndicate of kidnappers is currently on the rampage in the state. Its victims cut across status, age and gender. Newswatch investigation showed that no fewer than 200 adults have been abducted this year alone. The most frightening aspect of the menace is that no one, rich or poor is excluded from the claws of the kidnappers. Children below five years are not spared as no less than 12 have been kidnapped in Owerri and its environs in the past two months. Kidnapping has become the second most booming trade after politics in the state. Inhabitants of the state are living in constant fear, while those outside the state are afraid to visit home because of the risk of being kidnapped by the rampaging criminals who find kidnapping a less hazardous way of extracting huge sums of money from the victims. Unconfirmed reports indicate that the kidnappers have a comprehensive directory of their targets and monitor them closely.

Worried by the increase in kidnap cases, the state government recently launched a security initiative known as “Operation Rescue Imo.” During the launching, Rochas Okorocha, governor of the state admitted that there had been security challenges in the few weeks, but assured Imo citizens that his government was on top of the situation. The government distributed 100 brand new Hilux patrol vehicles and other security gadgets to security operatives and communities. Also, 32 suspected kidnappers were publicly paraded. 

 Jude Agbaso, deputy governor, admitted that there was security challenge in the state, but argued that the menace was not as horrific as people had portrayed it.   He said those behind the nefarious activities only want to embarrass the government. He also blamed the opposition politicians for the upsurge in kidnapping activities in the state. He told Newswatch that people engage in kidnapping for two purposes, either for money or to settle political scores. Agbaso said kidnapping had become a South-East, South-South problem and governments in these zones have taken measures to curtail it.  “Prior to our coming into government, we used to have five or six cases of kidnapping on a daily basis, but immediately after we came into power, incidents of kidnapping dropped. When we came into power, there was a reduction in crime as armed robbers and kidnappers went on vacation.  We articulated the security formation which culminated in the operation rescue Imo, which is a coalition of the police, soldiers, the state security service, SSS and Civil Defence corps.  We assured the people that we will reduce violent crimes to the barest minimum. We have set up community policing with vigilante groups in all autonomous communities. As I’m speaking to you, kidnapping is on the downward trend in the state. The government is keen on protecting lives and property in the state. What you see is just a flash,” he told Newswatch.

Despite the government’s effort, the criminals have remained undaunted.  Two weeks ago, five people were kidnapped in quick succession. But the one that rattled the government was the abduction of Chioma Ogoke,  commissioner for Commerce and Industry on October 8, in broad daylight and in the full glare of people along the MCC/Uratta road. Nne Ugorji, a retired medical doctor and wife of slain Richard Ugorji was abducted the previous day in Owerri North area of the state. Ugorji and Ogoke were released after spending seven days in the kidnappers den.  It was not certain how much ransom they paid before their abductors freed them. Newswatch, however, learnt that millions of Naira changed hands before they were left off the hook.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Paulinus Chukwu, former member of the House of Representatives, was abducted in his home town, Umuagwo in Ohaji/Egbema local government of the state a few weeks ago. The kidnappers were said to have invaded his home in the night last week and abducted him right from his bedroom. There are several other prominent citizens who are still being held hostage by kidnappers.

Linus Okere, 77-year-old retired civil servant and a community leader in Ihitte Okwe in Ngor/Okpala local government; was lucky. Okere was abducted on October 9, on his way to a church service at St. Peter Claver parish by four armed men. But youths numbering about 100 defied the sporadic gun shots and pursued the kidnappers. When the pressure was too much on the kidnappers as they approached the Sam Mbakwe airport, they abandoned their victim and ran into the bush. It is also believed in government’s circles that Okere’s abduction was political because of the role he played in the 2011 elections.

Apart from kidnapping adults, the menace took another dimension two months ago when a syndicate that specialised in luring children with snacks invaded churches in Owerri. This criminal gang has abducted no fewer than 12 children who came with their families or in company of house help to the church. For instance, on October 23, one Tina Enebere, 19,  attempted to kidnap Gift Agbasoga, 5, and his three-year-old brother Emmanuel Agbasoga at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Orsu Obodo in Oguta local government area of the state. But some commercial motorcycle operators thwarted her effort and promptly handed her over to the police.

Vitalis Orikeze Ajumbe, state chairman of All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, disagreed that the kidnappings in the state were perpetrated by politicians, insisting that politicians in the state were not known for such dastardly act. He said the government was not doing enough to combat the crime. He urged the government to arrest those politicians being suspected so that the people of the state would believe. He suggested that the entire security system should be overhauled to achieve a better result. “It takes a serious government to stop this ugly trend.

Recently, the governor launched what he called “Operation Rescue Imo.” And immediately he did that, the rate of kidnapping rose. What has the “Operation Rescue Imo done?” The government is still chasing shadows. If  kidnappers could abduct a serving commissioner in broad daylight, it tells you the level of insecurity in the state. The major issue is that security should be overhauled. If security men were involved in the kidnapping of Mikel Obi’s father in Jos, it could also be the same thing here,” he told Newswatch. 

 Zeek Martins Nnadozie, People’s Democratic Party, PDP chieftain also believes that the government was not serious about stopping kidnapping in the state. He disputed government’s claim that the recent upsurge was politically motivated.  Nnadozie said lack of firmness on the part of security agencies encouraged criminally-minded persons to indulge in the nefarious act with impunity. He doubted government’s assertion that the case of the commissioner was politically motivated and called for increase in intelligence gathering, training and re-training of security operatives for better service. “Kidnapping has lasted for over 15 years in the country. I was a victim of this evil menace when my wife was kidnapped. The police have no telephone decoder to track the kidnappers when they make their calls. If the kidnappings were politically motivated, how come out of the 32 suspects paraded by the police, none has confessed that politicians sent him. The issue is that the police have not been able to find a solution to the saga. Business is dying in the state,” he told Newswatch.

Newswatch investigations revealed that the new trend in kidnapping actually started after the 2007 general elections. Abduction of politicians and prominent citizens of the state became the order of the day. Those who had raw deal with the kidnappers include Celestine Ngobiwu, former member representing Obowu constituency in the state house of assembly; two children of Goodluck Opia, former speaker and Christopher Chukwu, father of Tony Chukwu, a business tycoon. He allegedly paid N100 million before he was released. But he died a few days later, apparently from the shock. Others are Peter Orji, PDP chieftain; Stella Odimegwu, wife of Festus Odimegwu, former managing director of Nigerian Breweries; justice ABC Egu, president of the state Customary Court of Appeal and Ugoeze Pauline Njemanze, registrar, state high court. Traditional rulers were not also spared. Samuel Ohiri, traditional ruler of Orodo and the current chairman of the state traditional rulers council;  Chijioke Okwara of Nkwerre andMichael Ekerue of Ifakala, all had bitter experiences in the hands of kidnappers. 

This was the same ugly trend that led to the infamous Otokoto riot of September 1996. Between 1995 and 1996, there were several reports of missing persons including children. The bodies of some of them were later found without their heads or private parts. Cases of ritual killings were also identified which forced some parents to adopt stringent measures to protect their children and wards.

The incident reached a crescendo when Ikechukwu Okoronkwo, an 11-year old groundnut seller was beheaded by Innocent Ekeanyanwu, a staff of Otokoto Hotel, Amakohia-Uratta, in the outskirt of Owerri. The police invaded the hotel where other headless bodies were exhumed. This led to the September 24, 25 and 26 riot in the state capital. It also spread to other neighbouring towns where properties allegedly belonging to suspected fraudsters were set ablaze or looted. Subsequently, the police smashed the syndicate headed by Obidiozor Duru, son of Vincent Duru, a.k.a. Otokoto, the proprietor of the notorious hotel. The arrest of Obidiozor led to the arrest of other members of the syndicate later known as Otokoto 6. They include Amanze Onuoha, Collins Amadi, Sydney Onyechege, Chidiebere Onuoha and Charles Okoroafor. They were tried and found guilty by the Imo State Armed Robbery and Firearms Tribunal headed by Innocent Nnodum, a high court judge. They were later executed by firing squad, excluding Okoroafor who was said to be an underaged when the crime was committed.

In April 2004, another syndicate that specialised in kidnapping children of prominent members of the society for ransom sprang up. Within two months, the gang made away with no fewer than 12 children and smiled to the banks as millions of  Naira changed hands before their release.  The most pathetic was an incident that happened at the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Owerri, in June 2004. A couple that had a baby after 13 years of fruitless marriage had their baby snatched by the same syndicate and nothing was heard of the two-month-old baby. During that time, there were insinuations that some politicians were behind the crime which they used in settling political scores having lost the 2003 general elections. Unlike in 1996, when a clue was provided to the police, the 2004 incidents had no traceable marks to help the police in their operations. This was because the syndicate had children below the age of five as their targets. 

In all these events, the police have consistently failed to rise to the occasion. The syndicate seems more fortified with sophisticated weapons than the police.  In 2009, the Imo State House of Assembly passed a bill which provided for death penalty for anyone convicted of kidnapping or whose premises are used by a kidnapper to hold a victim hostage. Two years after, nobody has been convicted, yet the menace is on the increase.  There are fears that the present situation might force people to experiment with jungle justice in the absence of a workable law against kidnapping in the state.