The people of Agboriko Orokam in Ogbadibo local government area of Benue State have again appealed to the state government, heads of security agencies and influential indigenes to help stop the resurgence of kidnapping in the area.
Agboriko-Orokam is a community along the Makurdi-Enugu highway linking the northern states to the South and shares boundaries with Enugu-Ezike and Amala in Udenu local government area of Enugu State to the South East as well as Olamaboro local government area of Kogi State.
The national president of Agboriko Development Association, Mr. Godwin Elaigwu Abakpa, told LEADERSHIP Weekend that despite spirited efforts by people of the area to check the tide, kidnapping had increased, endangering the lives of residents and travelers along the highway.
He said it was affecting peace and security not only in Agboriko but also in the entire Orokam and if left unchecked, would greatly endanger free movement of motorists along the ever-busy Makurdi-Enugu highway, thereby retarding national economic development and security.
He said kidnappers had been frequently harassing residents and motorists and urged the state government and security agencies to quickly come to their rescue.
Of particular note is the Adum-Oko hill after Ijadoga Otukpa on the old road to Orokam Centre and bad portions of the expressway to Obollo Afor in Enugu State as well as Oleche Adupi.
“Kidnappers have been terrorising our area, they torment residents at will, soldiers were deployed in the area some time ago and they were working very well, but they later left and I don’t know why, we are calling on the authorities and influential indigenes of Orokam to help stop it.
They recently went to a village and killed many goats and seized some people, this has been going on,” he said.
Abakpa also urged influential people of the area to urgently rise to the challenge before it gets out of hand.
“They recently attacked Oleche Ibiladu Adupi Orokam and killed many livestock, kidnapped Omale Achagba and collected ransom for his release. They have been seizing people along the expressway. Soldiers that were stationed at Orokam were always patrolling and improving security, I don’t know why they left, whoever took them away should please bring them back. We are suffering, our people are afraid to go to the village now, let government and law enforcement agencies act now, we appeal to the state government to come over and help us, our sons in positions of authority should also please act now,” he said.
The national president added that the association had been making efforts to strengthen ties with traditional institutions in the area to bring sanity, and called for the support of all stakeholders to move Agboriko forward.
