Robbers, kidnappers have taken over our community –Abia residents

Residents of Umudukwu community in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State have sent a save our soul (SOS) message to the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Anthony Ogbizi, over what they described as incessant armed robbery attacks and kidnapping in the area.

According to the residents, no day passes without attacks in the area. They said that armed robbers used to dispossess them of their cash and property in broad daylight without being challenged by security agents.

One of them said: “The ugly situation is worsened by the deplorable state of our roads in the area. We’re appealing to the Abia State government to rehabilitate the Umudukwu Road as well as beef up security to protect lives and property. Even if security agents are coming to arrest them, there are no roads to access the area. This has given the hoodlums the courage to operate without fear. The commissioner and the state government should come to our aid. We’re no longer safe.”

A landlord in the area, Mr. Kingsley Kalu, said that residents in the community could no longer sleep with their eyes closed because of these robbery attacks.

He said: “Nobody is safe in Umudukwu anymore. Robbers now operate in broad daylight, raiding shop owners and passers-by. They rob and leave without fear of being arrested by the police. Sometimes, people are kidnapped; yes, it’s as bad as that. Many people are relocating from this area to safer places. We’re calling on the Abia State Commissioner of Police to beef up security and protect our lives and property.”

A cross section of the residents said the deplorable state of roads in the area had made it difficult for security agencies to access the community to check the activities of hoodlums who had found a safe haven in the area.

Attempts to draw the attention of the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Geoffrey Ogbonna, to the plight of the residents or have him comment on it did not yield fruit as he failed to respond to calls and text message sent to his mobile phone as at the time of filing this report.