Suspected Kidnappers’ Tunnel Discovers In Abia

Umuahia, Abia State– A tunnel suspected to be used by kidnappers for move victims into the bush has been discovered in Lekwesi community, Umunneochi LGA, of Abia State.

The Commissioner of Police in Abia State, CP Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, said that he, along with a group of “Operation Crush” personnel and Abia State government representatives, visited two schools that had been seized by kidnappers in the Lekwesi community, Umunneochi LGA.

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 police boss further said that the entire area is vast and the culverts seen in the bushy areas could be used to hide victims.

“Because, if you are not aware that those culverts are there and you are passing by, you just pass on on top. There is a possibility that any structure that provides cover can be used to hide kidnapped victims including the culverts 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.

Commander Macdonald Uba (Rtd), the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters and a member of the team, alleged that the roads surrounding the schools had not been constructed by previous administration, pointing out that kidnappers exploited this situation, utilizing the areas as their hideouts.

He said the Abia State Government would do the road and reactivate the schools but urged the host villages to always provide timely information to the state government and security operatives.

Ferdinand Ekeoma, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, said that according to information from security agencies, the tunnel functioned as a location where kidnapping victims were released after the payment of ransom.

Adding to the discussion, Ndubuisi Ike, the Chairman of Umunneochi LGA, remarked that there has been a notable decrease in kidnapping activities in the area.

Mr Ike, who said that the kidnappers vandalised the two schools and wanted to dominate the area, appreciated Governor Otti and security agencies for their efforts.

Some members of the Lekwesi community including, Stephen Udeogu, Mr. Njoku Augustine and Anthony Akuma said upon the invasion of the Lekwesi secondary school by kidnappers, students were moved to Lekwesi primary school, where the kidnappers equally chased the pupils out and occupied the schools and started using the buildings as kidnap den.