By CHARLES IWUOHA

The security situation on the Idodo boundary axis of Ebonyi and the Enugu Expressway has deteriorated due to the criminal activities of kidnappers who lay siege to the road.

This development has forced many road users who use the route to suspend their trips.

The deteriorating situation has paralysed movements to and from Ebonyi State.

According to a source who pleaded anonymity, the kidnappers “can rest for hours and even days, but strike within a second without notice.”

An Ebonyi-based trader, Nicholas Nworie, told News Express he suspended an important meeting in Enugu at the weekend due to the spate of kidnappings on the road.

He said: “I postponed my all-important meeting in Enugu today because of the kidnapping incidents. Apart from myself, many others cancelled the trip and it’s very unfortunate.

“I have done my best to draw government’s attention to the problem but the governments of Enugu and Ebonyi seem not to be concerned about the incident.

“My sister called me this morning to say that her husband’s best friend was shot by hoodlums a few days ago while coming to Abakaliki at about 5 pm. He abandoned his car and escaped with a bullet wound. Something urgent needs to be done to arrest the situation.”

Another source noted that movement along the ever-busy road has become unsafe, adding: “Someone in my street just came back from Enugu this afternoon and said that though they crossed safely, everyone inside their vehicle started praying as they approached Idodo.”

He noted that the kidnappers were highly unpredictable and might even operate in broad daylight.

“Someone was kidnapped on Tuesday. They secured his release on Thursday. He was kidnapped before 3 pm. That same day, they (kidnappers) operated in the evening but a driver who escaped alerted those coming from Enugu and the road was deserted.

“When those from Abakaliki saw that no car was coming from Enugu, they parked. Security operatives were alerted and they cleared the road. All these did not happen very early or late at night but happened between 2 pm and 4 pm,” he narrated.

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