The Onitsha South Local Elders Forum (OSEF) has raised the alarm over the high rate of kidnapping and car snatching in the area.
They claimed that before now Onitsha South Local Government Area was one of the safest in the state.
In a statement yesterday, the elders said most of the incidents took place at Fegge, the hub of Onitsha South Local Government Area.
In the statement signed by the Chairman of the forum, Chief Cicilia Nnaemeka and Secretary, Ichie Emeka Nwakibeya, the elders said no fewer than 27 persons had been kidnapped, while 50 vehicles were snatched by hoodlums in the local government in the last few months.
They said last Friday, a beer parlour owner was shot at Silas Works Street. He later died, while one of his customers was kidnapped.
“On Tuesday, last week, a security operative simply called Emma, attached to one business man was murdered on Creeks Road, and his service rifle was collected from him by the criminals.
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“Another victim, one Ejiofor, had his Lexus 330 car snatched, while his friend who was with him was kidnapped.
“The victims are many and we cannot continue naming them one after the other,” they added.
The group attributed the latest crime wave in the area to lack of youths engagement. It called on the Chairman of the Local Government, Chief Emeka Orji, and Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr.Monday Ekuase, to secure the local government.
The group said as the criminals became more sophisticated in their operational modalities, the security operatives should equally think outside the box.
The Forum suggested that 20 security posts be created in the local government as well as stepping up intelligence gathering from security operatives to track down the criminals.