Oro Youth Movements (OYOM), a civil liberty organization, has condemned the continued mass abductions carried out in Oron communities and the demands for ransom by bandits in many parts of Oro, Akwa Ibom State, and Nigeria at large.
The group warns that these unfortunate and continuously worrisome incidents underline an attack on the future of Nigeria’s growth and development.
The group decries the fact that three weeks ago, a medical practitioner, Dr. Robin John Esu, was kidnapped. While expecting the hoodlums to release the victim, the wife of a famous youth leader in Oro, Ulap Asukwo Enweme (Levile), was reportedly kidnapped last week.
In a press statement endorsed by its National President, Comrade Edet Eyo, yesterday, OYOM said it views the spike in frequent mass kidnappings in vulnerable communities as capable of wreaking great havoc on the country in the future.
Chronicling the high-profile abductions, particularly in Oro Nation, the pan non-governmental organization (NGO) said the serial abductions are almost normative in frequency, underlining both a retrogressive response from duty-bearers and a lack of intelligence utilization.
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It also said the orgy of abductions has placed a heavy burden on the Government and security agencies to fashion out better response techniques to these incidents that haven’t shown signs of abating.
In the statement, the National President, Comrade Edet Eyo, noted that the ratio of security personnel to Nigeria’s approximately 200 million inhabitants hasn’t helped the situation.
“In addition to increasing personnel to meet demands, technology should also be deployed. Effective border control, stiffer penalties for perpetrators, and a reduction in corruption would go a long way in improving the security situation in the country,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Paramount Ruler of Mbo Local Government Area, His Royal Majesty Offong Okon Abang, has been reportedly kidnapped.
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It was learned yesterday that the kidnappers went to the palace of the monarch at Etisong Ebughu, Mbo LGA, shooting the wife in the leg, thereby waylaying their victims, who were seized and moved to an unknown location.
An OYOM Leader who spoke in confidence with our reporter said that the residents were living in fear as a result of the activities of criminals, especially kidnappers.
“The patience of the youths is threatened, as we shall stage massive demonstrations and world press conferences to attract the attention of the International Community if nothing is done urgently.”
Comrade Edet Eyo said the kidnappers had contacted the relatives of the victims for ransom negotiation while calling on the gunmen to release the indigenes of the community unhurt and unconditionally.
