Commercial drivers plying the Enugu-Ugwuogo-Opi-Nsukka Road, on Tuesday, protested against the rising rate of kidnapping operations on the road.
During the protest, the drivers were seen carrying placards with various inscriptions to express their grievances against the kidnapping episodes that have plunged families of people plying the road to navigate their destinations in the state into mourning.
Some of the inscriptions read: “Govt, secure and protect the lives of your citizens”, “Kidnappers operate under the watch of security operatives”, “Kidnappers have taken over Enugu State”, “Govt must take the bull by the horn and stop this grave incident”, “The Air Force should join hand by using helicopters to comb the bushes,” among others.
The drivers, while urging the state government and security agents to make the road safer, said the Enugu State Police Command was fond of denying kidnapping incidents along the road.
Speaking during the protest, one of the drivers, Kingsley Omeje, said commercial drivers usually ply the axis in fear, adding that the government needed to take drastic measures to curb the situation.
He said, “We cannot continue plying this road in fear. Men, women and children are in the bush and the government is not doing anything about it. Criminals are increasing on this road and security operatives are reducing. The attention of the government is highly needed. It is either the government intervenes or nobody will ply this road again.”
Speaking further, Omeje said last Thursday, hoodlums allegedly attacked commuters on three separate operations along the road.
“The first attack occurred at noon, the second attack took place around 2pm, while the third group of commuters were kidnapped around 5pm,” he said.
Confirming the protest, Reuben Onyishi, the Senior Special Assistant, New Media, to the state governor, Peter Mbah, however, said no new case of kidnapping was recorded on the road.
He said, “The true position was that commercial Siena drivers converged at Opi- Nsukka with placards, protesting the cases of kidnapping that took place on the road last week.
“They were addressed by the DPO of Umabo Police Station, Eha-Alumona Nsukka this morning. The DPO explained to them the security measures that had been put in place and which had successfully cleared the road of kidnappers. Thereafter, they dispersed and went about their businesses.
“The road is safe as a joint team of the military, police and forest guards patrol the road and the bushes. Let no one be scared. Opi-Ugwuogo Road is safe as the Enugu State Government has adequately contained any form of insecurity on that road.”
