Ebonyi communities give Police 7-day ultimatum to rescue kidnapped children

BY PETER OKUTU

ABAKALIKI—THREE villages in Ishiagu Community of Ebonyi State have given a seven-day ultimatum to the police in the state to rescue seven children allegedly kidnapped by unknown gunmen in the area.

The villages include Oyumte, Ayaragu and Ekembe.

The villagers who went on a peaceful protest to press home their demand over the incident later marched to Ivo Divisional Police headquarters where they charged the police to unmask those behind the dastardly act to avoid unnecessary crisis in the LGA.

Vanguard investigation revealed that some unknown gunmen had on December 23 and 24, 2012, unleashed mayhem on the three villages, abducting seven children within the age bracket of 3 and 5 years old.

The protesters, who were in their hundreds, comprised mostly aged women and youths.

*IGP Abubakar

They were seen on major roads in the area chanting war songs as they warned the police and other security agencies not to handle the matter with kid gloves.

They said: “Our villages are under siege; armed abductors have taken over our villages and we live in fear of the unknown.

“We are giving the police one week to uncover those behind the act. They should not hand this matter with levity but with utmost commitment.”

A source close to Ivo divisional police headquarters who pleaded anonymity, told Vanguard that one person had been arrested in connection with the incident.

“The police is on top of the situation; we have made one arrest and investigation is ongoing and soon all those involved will be in our net,” the source said.

Contacted, Ebonyi State police command spokesman, DSP Sylvester Igbo, who confirmed the incident, noted that one suspect (name withheld) had been arrested, while investigation was on to arrest other members of the gang.