ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Enugu State Network of Civil Society Organizations (ENSNET), has condemned in strongest terms, the incessant and recent attacks on travelers along Ugwugo-Nike- Opi-Nsukka Road of Enugu state.
ENSNET is a broad membership network of over 60 active Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) working for the advancement of sustainable development, free, open and resilient civic space in Enugu State.
The Civil Society Organizations have, therefore, called on the state government and other relevant agencies, for the urgent rescue of the victims and also increase surveillance along that corridor.
This was contained in a statement collectively signed and issued by the Chairperson Enugu State Network of Civil Society Organisations (ENSNET), Emmanuel Acha, Ikenna Ugwu, Public Relations Officer, and James Ugochukwu Okpe, of the African Centre for Entrepreneurship and Information Development (ACEIDEV), on Saturday, obtained by voiceofnaija.ng.
It is on record that kidnappers and criminal elements have been operating in that axis for some days now abducting commuters and demanding huge ransoms.
The statement reads further: “The report we have received so far include the abduction of students of the University of Nigeria Nsukka returning to the school for resumption of studies.
“Also in the kidnappers den is Dan Shere former Secretary to the Enugu State Government.
“While we commend the steps of the State Governor, His Excellency Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and other security chiefs who were in the areas for on the spot assessment of the situation, we call on the Government of Enugu State and the Security Agencies to step up their vigilance and activate all means to put an end to this ugly trends given the economic importance of the said road as one of the major economic corridors between the North, the South East and the South South parts of the country.
“Any security threats to commuters on this road will spell doom for the economic growth and development of the state and the country at large.
“We further call on the Security Agencies in Enugu to deploy the already available surveillance helicopters in Enugu town to Ugwugo-Nike, Opi-Nsukka Road for regular patrol of the area in order to mitigate and curb the activities of these criminals.
“We call on the Government and Security Agencies to go after the kidnappers, rescue the victims they have abducted so far and beef up security around the area and elsewhere where similar security threats have observed in the state.”
The CSO also called on the youths of the communities along the axis, community vigilantes, neigbourhood watch, Ebube Agu Security Outfits, Forests Guards, to comb the forests in their communities and give relevant information to security agencies, adding that, “If these communities are not safe, the state is not safe.”
It continued: “Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 constitution (as amended), states that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. The Government through the Security Agencies should put more efforts in this direction.”
Commending the State Government and the Security Agencies for the steps taken so far in fighting insecurities, the group urges them to work with stakeholders particularly the civil society in order to put a final stop to these ugly menaces.