Abia State Commissioner of Police, CP Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, has commended Governor Alex Otti for the effective measures taken to address the previous insecurity challenges in Abia.
CP Onwuemelie said the institution of good governance by Governor Otti’s administration has helped security agencies in the state rise to the occasion in combating criminal elements in the state.
CP Onwuemelie expressed his appreciation over the weekend while leading a team from Operation Crush to two schools in the Lekwesi community, Umunneochi local government area.
The Commissioner of Police was accompanied by the special adviser to the governor on security, Commander MacDonald Uba (Rtd).
According to the CP, there is a connection between good governance and security.
He said the schools visited have been dilapidated for a long time, adding that reconstruction of the schools would make it difficult for criminals to make use of them as dens.
The CP said: “There is a connection between good governance and security. We can tell you that from what we have experienced in the past seven months, good governance has come back to Abia.
“Beyond that or in addition to that, you can see collaboration among security forces, the military, police, and all other security agencies are working hand in glove with the support of this government.
“We assure the people of Abia State that we would put in our best to make sure that the vision of the Governor for a safe and secure Abia state is accomplished.”
CP Onwuemelie further said that the entire area is vast and the culverts seen in the bushy areas could be used to hide victims.
He said: “Because, if you are not aware that those culverts are there and you are passing by, you just pass on top. There is a possibility that any structure that provides cover can be used to hide kidnapped victims including the culvert but we must also tell you that in the past seven months, the challenge of kidnapping has been tackled very well in Abia state.”
He said since the people of the community have seen what Governor Otti is doing in that area in terms of security, they should continue to give timely information to the government and security operatives.
Contributing, the Mayor of Umunneochi LGA, Ndubuisi Ike, said kidnapping in the area has significantly reduced compared to how it was before the emergence of Governor Alex Otti.
He said they want to leverage technology to ensure that the incidences of kidnapping in the area are dealt with.
The mayor of Umunneochi, who said that the kidnappers vandalised the schools and wanted to dominate the area a few years ago, appreciated Governor Otti, and the security agencies for what they have done so far to keep Umunneochi safe from the hands of kidnappers, who they said were from outside of Abia and Southeast.
The mayor said: “The governor has been very supportive. There is nothing we need on security that he has not provided. It is a war we are steadily winning, it is a war we are determined to win.
“And soon we are hopeful that with the help of the CP, the Governor, and the security architecture in the State, we will return Umunneochi to normalcy.
Some members of the community including Stephen Udeogu, Mr. Njoku Augustine, and Chief Anthony Akuma narrated how good life was being enjoyed before the kidnapping incidents started.
They informed that upon the invasion of the Lekwesi Secondary School by kidnappers, the students were moved to Lekwesi Primary School, where the kidnappers equally chased the pupils out and occupied the schools and started using them as kidnap den.
They appreciated the effort of Governor Alex Otti to arrest the menace and assured that the Umunneochi community would cooperate with the government and security men to ensure the total security of their community.
