— Identifies Flashpoints And Getaways, As Two Kidnap Victims Regain Freedom
Chairmen of Emohua, Degema, Asari-Toru and Akuku-Toru local government areas of Rivers State have through their collaborative effort christened; EDAA collaboration taken steps to curb the security challenges along the Emohua-Kalabari road.
The road which has been in the news for kidnap cases and other related security challenges is the only access road to the three Kalabari speaking LGAs of Degema, Asari-Toru and Akuku-Toru, through Emohua LGA, Rivers State.
The council chairmen, Dr. Chidi Lloyd (Emohua), Hon Michael John Williams (Degema) Hon. Onengiyeofori George (Asari-Toru) and Hon Rowland Sekibo (Akuku-Toru) on Monday led a combined team of security personnel to identify the flashpoints and getaways used by kidnappers and armed robbers terrorizing the area, with a view to providing lasting solution to the security challenges along the road.
Emohua local government chairman, Dr. Chidi Lloyd who spoke on behalf of the EDAA collaboration said the increasing rate of kidnap and armed robbery cases reported along the Emohua-Kalabari road has become a source of worry to the chairmen of the affected local government areas. He said the four LGA chairmen are working in synergy with the security agencies to tackle the situation, in line with their commitment to the security of lives and properties.
“According to Dr. Lloyd; My colleagues and I have put our heads together in collaboration with the state police command, you can see the deputy commissioner in charge of operations is leading this operation himself, though we can not disclose everything because it is a security matter but on the immediate, we are starting with the clearing of the shoulders of the road; that is the bush growing into some sections of the road and the flashpoints and getaways identified along the road, and simultaneously we shall be establishing beats at strategic locations for our security men to fully occupy the area, in order to give our citizens and road users the confidence to continue to use the road”.
The Emolga council Boss assured that the synergy between the security agencies and the EDAA collaboration will bring an end to the issue of insecurity along the Emohua-Kalabari road, while calling for support from critical stakeholders, residents and road users, especially in the area of information gathering
He said; So far, we have identified the flashpoints and the getaways and in less than few days you will see work commence fully, and with what we are putting in place, the issue of insecurity along the Emohua-Kalabari road will be a thing of the past, but we cannot achieve this without the support of critical stakeholders, residents and road users, especially in the area of information gathering.
The deputy commissioner of police in charge of operations (DCP OPs) in Rivers State, DCP Mohammed Shehu said the synergy between the council chairmen and the security agencies is intended to check criminal activities along the Emohua-Kalabari road following reports of kidnap cases in the area.
He assured that adequate deployment of security personnel will be made to improve the security of lives and properties along the road following the identification of the flashpoints and escape routes used by the criminals.
He said the police will also be working in synergy with local vigilante groups in Emohua and the three Kalabari speaking LGAs, especially in the area of information gathering.
In his words; “We are here together with the local government chairmen to examine the flashpoints used by the criminals to kidnap people and take them through the River and the farm roads here. The local government chairmen have promised to clear the bush and make other necessary arrangements for our men to move in and adequate deployment of security personnel is going to be made as soon as they finish clearing the area and provide shelter for our security personnel to fully takeover the road.
“We are also going to involve the local vigilante groups actively because they have the local intelligence more that the police”.
On the recent abduction reported along the Emohua-Kalabari road, DCP Mohammed Shehu disclosed that two victims had already been rescued from their abductors while efforts were being intensified to apprehend the kidnappers and other victims that were still in their custody.
Bright Jossy-Elendu
Chief Press Secretary To The Chairman, Emohua Local Government Area.
19/9/2022
