“We Have Had Enough Of   Kidnappings, Abductions,  Raping Of Our Women” – Ogah To Muslim Leaders

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Abia communities in Isukwuato, and Isuochi/Umunneochi Local Councils have warned  that they will no longer tolerate incessant cases of kidnappings, abductions, and continued harassment and raping of their farmers and women by people suspected to be killer herdsmen .

The communities lamented that due to kidnappings and other criminal activities allegedly being perpetrated by suspected criminal elements of Fulani  extractions along ,the university town of Uturu, Isukwuato Umunneochi and Isuochi, farming activities in the affected areas have stopped, leading to wide spread hunger and deprivations among the people.

The Communities who spoke on Wednesday April 10, through the Member representing Isukwuato/Umunneochi/Isuochi at the House of Representatives, Dr Amobi Ogah warned that they have had enough of the abductions, kidnappings, killings and raping of their of people.

Hon Ogah who is the Chairman of the House Committee on HIV/AIDS,Tuberculosis and Malaria Control issued the warning when he paid a Sallah visit to the Muslim leaders of the Lokpanta Cattle Market in Umuchieze, Umunn eochi local council of Abia state .

Hon Ogah, regretted that most people in his constituency have since abandoned farming owing to the high level of insecurity in the area occasioned by the criminal activities of suspected Herdsmen, noting that hunger and poverty now ravage the people as a result of the disruptions of their legitimate means of survival.

“The hunger in our place today is because our people don’t go to the farm again.. Herdsmen are raping our women and they are giving you people a bad name.

If we have Elders like you here and you can not call the criminals to order ,then that means there is a serious problem. I want the right things to be done and we must change our attitude”the House of Representatives Member told the Muslim leaders

Hon Ogah ,used the occasion to appreciate Governor Alex Otti for his  intervention in the security challenges in the area ,through the establishment of the state’s special security outfit- Operation Crush,

He noted that the Operation Crush came timely and has so far been able to curtail most of the criminal activities within the Lokpanta Cattle Market .

The Source reports that the Lokpanta Cattle Market and its environs, and the Isukwuato- Uturu axis were the epicentres of kidnappings ,abductions ,killings ,raping and other criminal activities through out most parts of the immediate past administration in the state.

Several high profile abductions for ransom by suspected herdsmen including the kidnapping of the immediate past  prelate of the Methodist Church  Nigeria His Eminence Samuel Uche were recorded on the route .

However, public out cry led to the prioritization of the security challenges in the area by the Dr Otti, administration, with the demolition of some parts of the Lokpanta Cattle Market strongly believed to be the sanctuary of criminal elements, as well as the setting up of  the states Special Security outfit.

During the Eid El Fitri Visit ,Hon Ogah donated to the Muslim Community the sum of Two million Naira for the completion of their Mosque and some essential commodities as part of his  contributions to their Sallah celebrations