By Vincent Ujumadu

AWKA — VARIOUS professional bodies and residents in the industrial town of Nnewi in Anambra State have made a passionate appeal to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, to effect massive transfer of policemen in the state, if the battle against kidnapping is to succeed.

Rising from a stakeholders’ meeting attended by members of the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, traders and other professional bodies in the town, the people alleged that many policemen have become collaborators in the unfortunate incidence of kidnapping.

They added that only a set of policemen genuinely interested in fighting crime should be brought to the state.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, weekend, they also reminded the state Commissioner for Police, Mr. Philemon Leha, of his statutory responsibility of protecting lives and property, noting that a situation where about four people were kidnapped at  Nnewi daily was no longer acceptable.

Police in Nnewi
In the communiqué, signed by Dr. E. C. Afiadigwe for NMA, Chief Emmanuel Egbunonu for NBA and Chief Gozie Akudolu for traders, they said “the kidnappers are able to beat existing police check-points due to the fact that police concentrate more on the commercial vehicles and motorcycle operators.

“We also observed that these policemen at check points vanish once the commercial vehicles and motorcycles stop operating or once there is a report of a kidnap incident.

“Besides, no investigations are conducted after a kidnap incident, even when it has been properly documented, while the police ask for money before the victims’ belongings are released.”

Make case for vigilance groups

The communiqué also called on Governor Peter Obi to partner with the police to properly organise and equip the local vigilante groups in the state to assist the state police command in checking the incidence of kidnapping.

They noted there was so much tension at Nnewi and that only an immediate action by the IG could save the situation.

Vanguard recalls that residents of Nnewi closed all business activities in the town last week and staged a peaceful protest against kidnapping in the area.

Their action necessitated the decision of Governor Obi to hold a meeting of the State Security Council in the town last Wednesday during which measures to curb the incident of kidnapping in the area were adopted.

At that meeting, Obi reiterated his administration’s resolve to hold traditional rulers and presidents-general of the various town unions responsible for kidnapping incidents in the areas, since it had been ascertained that every kidnapping had an insider arrangement.