Yet-to-be identified gunmen have reportedly kidnapped former Head of Service in Osisioma Local Government Area of Abia State, identified as Mr. Christopher E. Nwokoma.

The Nation gathered Nwokoma, who is an indigene of Umudaba village in Etiti Amavo autonomous community, was kidnapped when he visited the village to attend a thanksgiving service.

The retired civil servant was said to have been rounded up by men wielding gun in an Audi SUV few meters to his house.

While reports have it that the hoodlums have contacted the family, another has it that they were yet to make contact with the family of the victim.

When contacted, the Abia State Command Police Public Relations Officer, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna confirmed the incident.

Ogbonna said that he was yet to be properly briefed about the incident at the time of filing the report.

Meanwhile, Southeast group, Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) in a statement on Monday in Aba by its President General, Chief Goodluck E. Ibem, condemned what it described as increased rate of insecurity of lives and properties in Abia State, especially, Aba.

COSEYL, while blaming security agencies for not living up to their responsibilities, called on heads of various security agencies in the state to rise up and protect lives and properties of the residents and ensure that they gather the required intelligence to nip crime in the bud before it happened.

“We condemn in strong terms the increased rate of insecurity of lives and properties in Abia state especially Aba where criminals and hoodlums harass and shot indiscriminately without any challenge from the police or other security agencies whose primary duties is to protect lives and properties.

“The recent attacks by hoodlums have shown that the police and other security agencies are not gathering enough intelligence required for the security of Abia State. This is indeed worrisome.

“On Friday, May 30, along Park road in Aba, some hoodlums shot a tricycle operator in the head for foiling their attempt to kidnap a lady he was carrying in his tricycle. The hoodlums stay shooting for about 10 minutes and there was no response from the police, army or any other security agency.

“We call on the commissioner of police, the army, and other security agencies in Abia State to rise up to their duties of protecting lives and properties.

“Security of lives and property is the first responsibility of any government to his citizens. The government cannot run away from its primary responsibility. They should provide everything needed by our security agencies to do their job effectively.

“We call on President Muhammadu Buhari who is the chief security officer of the Nation, the Inspector General of police, The Chief of Army Staff and heads of other security agencies to do the needful for the security of lives and property in Abia State.”

But a security agent, who pleaded not to be mentioned while admitting that there could be challenges militating against their work and their response time to crime incidents, blamed Aba residents for not providing the police with needed information and on time too.

The source said that they (security agencies) have been doing their best with the limited resources that they have to ensure that Aba and Abia residents sleep with their eyes closed and go about their duties without fear of molestation by any person or group of individuals. (The Nation)

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