Kidnappers, rapists invade Imo community

The People of Eg­belu Nguru com­munity in Ngor Okpala local gov­ernment area of Imo State are now living in constant fear as suspected kidnap­pers and rapists have in­vaded the community.

Suspected kidnappers have turned the commu­nity to their operational base as no week passes without reported cases of kidnapping and victims being raped by some gang of criminals in the com­munity.

It was equally learnt that the hoodlums had even overwhelmed the lo­cal vigilante group and the police in the area as they move about with impu­nity.

The indigenes of the community who pro­tested yesterday over the activities of the criminals lamented that they now live in constant fear as the crime rate in the commu­nity is alarming.

Mr. Linus Eke, a com­munity leader who spoke press said the villagers have been living in fear because of the activities of hood­lums and criminal ele­ments in the community.

“Crime occurs almost every day in the commu­nity, including kidnap­ping and rape cases,” he lamented.

Speaking in the same vein, Mr. Gregory Alozie who was among the protesters pointed out that “criminal activity has become an every day oc­currence”, stressing that cases of rape, 419 and ab­duction are now common place in the community.

Alozie who blamed the police for not do­ing enough to arrest the criminals most of whom are well known to them, appealed to the state gov­ernor ,Owelle Rochas Okorocha to save the com­munity from the criminals.

Also, the secretary gen­eral of the community, Mr. Henry Ugwulor dis­closed that the activities of the criminals had gone beyond local security, adding that the commu­nity records more cases of kidnapping and rape than anywhere in the state.

“ The activities of crimi­nals in this community is beyond what we can han­dle and we will not mind if the governor sends mili­tary personnel to help us out because it appears that the police cannot handle the matter”, he lamented.

However, the youth sec­retary of the community, Okere Casmir revealed that the criminals are be­ing aided by some people in the community. “Our own people even partner with the criminals to victi­mise villagers and also as­sist them to escape when security agents come after them.”

He called on the gov­ernor and commissioner of police to wade into the matter and rescue the peo­ple from criminals.

Speaking also, the com­munity vice chairperson, women wing, Mrs. Jovita Anyanwu said women had been going through hell as rapists torment them daily.

[SunNews]