Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt
PEACE has returned to roads in Rivers State especially communities in Ikwere Local Government Area known for kidnapping, cultism, rape, murder and other criminal activities.
Hitherto, travelers and commercial drivers plying Elele Road to Owerri in Imo State and Bayelsa State painted gory pictures of criminal operations carried out by armed youths from Ikwere communities bordering the road.
Investigations revealed that most people lost their lives, sustained gunshot injuries while others were kidnapped by the hoodlums and kept in bushes until ransom was paid by the victims’ families.
The Executive Chairman of Ikwere Local Government Area, Samuel Nwanosike, at the weekend said the situation was horrible when he took over the mantle of leadership of the council.
He said roads linking some communities such as Isiokpo, Elele, Ubima, Omarelu, Aluu, Omagwa and others were impassible because of the activities of criminals, who he said made life horrible for commuters and drivers.
Read Also: Kidnappers, cultists abandon Rivers notorious roads, council
He said most communities were ghost towns as cultists sacked residents, who had to run to Port Harcourt and other peaceful communities. He said: “Insecurity was part of our major problem in this local government area. There was a time Isiokpo was a ghost town. Young men took to drugs and serious crimes.
“They were holding light weapons. They were lurking around the local government. It is now a thing of the past. Kidnapping in Elele, Owerri Road, Ubima, Omarelu, Aluu and Omagwa, some days we had five cases.” But Nwanosike expressed happiness that after two years of his administration, he and his team worked with the state government and other stakeholders to flush out the criminals terrorising the council.
He said: “When we came in, we got a clear and direct mandate from the governor to work with security agencies and ensure the protection of lives and property throughout the local government area.
Leave a Reply