By Dennis Agbo

ABAKALIKI—THE Catholic Bishop of Abakaliki Dioceses, Right Rev. Michael Okoro, has called on Acting President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Assembly to evolve ways to end the spate of kidnappings in the country.

Bishop Okoro made the call during a thanksgiving mass at St Patrick’s Catholic Church, Ezza-ofu in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State,  in honour of Chief Chris Nwankwo, who was miraculously saved from the claws of kidnappers in October 2009.

Chief Nwankwo, an elder statesman and influential politician in Ebonyi State, was one time Secretary to the State Government in the old Anambra State. He was 6 on October 2009  abducted by kidnappers from his farm with the village head at Ezza-Inyimegu in Izzi council. The hoodlums were, however, arrested through the joint efforts of the Ebonyi youth, the police and members of the community.

Bishop Okoro, however, said the criminality of kidnapping portends negatively not only on the country’s image but its economic potential, noting that time was ripe for the government to fight and stop the  act in order to restore the country’s integrity.