*Ijaw Youths blame Four LGA Chairmen of no commitment to security
Ibrahim Bakare/Port Harcourt
The whereabouts of the Eight passengers kidnapped by gunmen on Saturday night along Abonnema-Emohua-Kalabari road remains unknown in Rivers State.
During the kidnap, the Driver of the vehicle, one Salvation Taylor Harry, was gruesomely murdered.
The Rivers State Police Command through its Spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, which confirmed the incident assured that the adequate security has been mobilized to the road to forestall future occurrence.
According to reports from Eyewitnesses said the passengers had taken off from Mile One Park in Port Harcourt and headed to Abonnema-Emohua-Kalabari road to Buguma when the gunmen ambushed them.
Reacting to the upsurge of kidnappings and criminality, the Chairman of Asari-Toru Local Government Area, Onengiyeofori George, has challenged the Police to curb the renewed spate of such activities along the Emohua – Kalabari Road.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr John Paul Braide, on Sunday 4th September 4, 2022 in Buguma City, the local government Council Boss, charged the Police to live up to its promise to safeguard the only route to Kalabari Land.
Onengiyeofori George, who condemned the kidnapping incident on Saturday night, in which the driver, one Salvation Taylor Harry was gruesomely murdered, has sympathized with the bereaved family over their loss.
Consequently, the Executive Chairman of the LGA has ordered the closure of Buguma motor park after 6pm daily, warning all motorists and drivers alike to desist forthwith from endangering the lives of the people of Asari-Toru local government area by continuing to ply the route after the closure of the park.
He further advised passengers and all residents of Asari-Toru to be conscious of their personal safety and ensure that night traveling is discouraged at the moment until sanity and security on the road are restored.
Motorists alleged that the Policemen in the few Police Checkpoints on that road were only interested in the money they collect from taxi Drivers and illegal refiners of Petroleum products.
The four local government Chairmen had several pledged commitment to ensure security on road after Soldiers were withdrawn following the killing of some of them in checkpoints by gunmen last year. Meanwhile, the youths of Kalabari ethnic nationality in Rivers State have blamed the local government chairmen of Emohua, Akuku-Toru, Asari-Toru and Degema of not doing enough to curb kidnapping along the Emohua/Kalabari road.
The road is the only motorable road leading to the three Kalabari Local Government Areas veering off from Emohua.
The Kalabari Clan Chairman of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Comrade Edward Asiki-Tams told Journalists that the youths of the region are ready to provide lasting security on the road in synergy with the Nigeria security operatives.
“Our challenge is lack of commitment on the part of the Chairmen to provide us with the needed tools and logistics to secure that road.
“If we man that road, no person born of a woman can kidnap, rob or commit crimes on that road.”
The IYC chairman also advised politicians in the affected LGAs to empower the youths so as to bring them out of the creeks.
“No job creation, skill acquisition programmes nor any meaningful engagement for the youths. The youths are hungry and as a result prefer to remain in the creeks.
“Though hunger can not justify crime but if they get empowerment from the politicians, philanthropistts and business moguls in our area, a lot of them will leave the creeks and that will help to reduce the crime rate,” he said.
While calling on the kidnappers to with immediately release their victims unconditionally and forthwith desist from perpetrating such barbaric and criminal act, he however noted that this could possibly reduce the Kalabari voting strength if it’s not promptly and holistically addressed before 2023.
“This consistent kidnap incident mainly on the Emohua-Kalabari road will cause political fear mongering that will lead to poor participation in the ongoing INEC continuous voters registration exercise which may possibly reduce our voting strength.
“In every responsible clime, security has always been citizens duty, therefore let us give maximum support and cooperation to governments at all level devoid of political colouration, acrimony and ethnocentrism in making our environment a safe heaven, he added.