The rate at which kidnapping incidents occur in Ngor Okpala and Mbaitoli Local Government Areas is becoming a headache to the residents of the Areas.
According to Imo Trumpeta investigations, no day passes without one kidnap incident, arson or murder in these two Local Government Areas.
This situation has instilled fear into the inhabitants of the LGAs, so much so that those who can afford it are running away from the councils.
In Mbaitoli LGA, the target of the kidnappers seems to be the Traditional Rulers, who are kidnapped every day. In some cases, some traditional rulers are kidnapped as much as two times after which they would be released after ransoms were made.
For Eze Ekeruo, it has not been good story as the Royal father has been kidnapped two times, within the last six months. He just returned home a few days ago.
Eze Nwaozuzu of Awo Mbieri just regained freedom, while the likes of Eze of Abazu were also guests of kidnappers.
However, Eze Okwara was not that lucky as he was butchered by his captors, even after the ransome demanded were paid.
Imo Trumpeta was told that Orogwe Community in Mbaitoli LGA has become notorious and synonymous with most of the criminal acts in the council Area linked to the community.
Recently, the police in the State stormed a forest in the community, where nearly eleven kidnapped victims were released with the perpetrators nabbed.
In Ngor Okpala, Trumpeta investigations unveiled that while the Area has turned to safe haven for those kidnapped outside the Area, yet some youths from the council participate in the act proper.
The current one reverberating in the area now was the one involving a Traditional Ruler from one of the communities. Although the Traditional Ruler has told the police he has no hand in the “deal”.
Recently, a female owner of a primary school in Ulakwo in Owerri North LGA was kidnapped and hidden in Unuoma, in Ngor Okpala LGA.
Three kidnapped ladies brought to the Area recently escaped their captors and ran necked to police men escorting a corpse and were freed. They said they were kidnapped from Orlu.
A young man who presented a cup for Ngor Okpala Youth Football Championship had his father kidnapped. Though the old man has regained his freedom, but the cup donor has ran back to his base and not sighted at Ngor Okpala again for fear of his life.
Uche Alaribe, a bear dealer at Nnorie, was kidnapped and his dead body later found at Etche in Rivers state.
About two weeks ago, a youth at Nguru was found with his bowel opened and his private parts missing.
Youths of the community went wild. When calm returned, two upstairs were burnt down with a palm oil milling plant also razed down.
In Elelem, Obike, Ntu and other parts of Ngor Okpala, the situation remains the same as people live in fear and have abandoned their houses in the villages.
Some of those who spoke to Imo Trumpeta said the causes of high rate of crime in the South East, nay Nigeria is due to lack of jobs to engage the teeming and roaming youths into productive ventures.
However, the police in the State have reassured the citizens to go about their businesses, but should help the police with available information that can help curb crime in the Imo state.
