𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗗𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗪𝗼𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻

By George OPARA

The people of Nyenweli of Ipo community in Ikwerre Council Area of Rivers state have cried out for help over a rising rate of insecurity besieging the area.

Chief Precious Nwogu said more than 100,000 plots of forested land has been under the control of prowling bandits.

In a press conference organized by the Ogbakor Ikwerre, Chief Nwogu explained that the large forest has become a major hideout for kidnappers and criminals who periodically attack various communities before returning to their hideout inside the bush.

He said the nagging insecurity is no longer affecting IPO community but their neighboring communities in Rivers State and, even spiralling to nearby areas of Imo State.

In his words, “The the forest stretches across IPO, Omadene, Elele, Eche, parts of Igwuruta, and extends toward communities in Imo State”.

It was highlighted that the rampaging criminals often go to places like Ubima, Omoku, and other nearby towns to commit crimes only to return to the same thick forest with their victims.

He added, “kidnapping has become common in the area as residents now live in fear of the unknown everyday”.

Chief Nwogu recalled that one of the engineers handling a road project awarded by the Rivers state government was kidnapped earlier this year and a huge ransom was paid for his release, not only that, farmers are often kidnapped while working on their farms, forcing poor families to struggle to raise unanticipated ransom.

“Imagine one of our community members is kidnapped. Who will pay the ransom – he asked rhetorically.

In extreme cases, it was reported that the criminals have started daring motorists and motorcyclists close to the airport and even targeting airport personnel.

Distressed Nwogu has appealed to the Federal Government, Rivers State Government, and local government authorities to quickly intervene, describing the nature of the forest as difficult for police actions, noting that the bandits have many escape routes.

“You cannot chase them from only one side because they know many other ways to escape. When security enters, they disappear and later return again”.