Nigeria Content Online

The transition
chairman of Ukwa west local government, Henry Nwokengbede is one of 39
suspected kidnappers arraigned yesterday before an Umuahia senior
magistrate court presided over by Adiele Ogbonna, for kidnapping and
related offences.

Security officials
said the arraignment of the suspects was part of their intensified
efforts to free Abia from the clutches of kidnappers. The suspects,
including 14 females, were arrested on September 30 when soldiers
launched an offensive against kidnapping gangs around the Ukwa west
area of the state in search of the 15 children abducted on their way to
school.

The suspects were
charged under Section 3 (C) of the Prohibition of Terrorism Law of Abia
state, “for being aware or reasonably having been aware that some
persons, names unknown are being kidnapped or held hostage in your
various communities, fail to disclose the place to the police within
reasonable time.” However, no plea was taken when the charges were read
and the matter was adjourned to October 12, while Mr Nwokengbede was
directed to appear on October 26.

The Inspector
General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, said the end had finally come for
criminals who have been holding Abia hostage. He said the minister of
police affairs will visit Abia to handle the political aspect of the
ongoing efforts to clear Abia of all criminals.

“I have the
mandate; I have the order to flush out all the criminals in the
shortest time,” he told Abia State governor, Theodore Orji during a
courtesy visit, adding that the increase in number of police and army
personnel in the state was a sign that there was no longer a hiding
place for hoodlums.

He said the
kidnappers and other criminal elements have to choose either to come
out of the forests and surrender or “we will meet them in the forest
and they will face annihilation.

“We shall not go
out of this place (Abia) until we achieve the success we are determined
to achieve,” Mr Ringim said, adding, “we are law abiding and we will on
no account violate fundamental human rights of any body.”

Mr Orji said he supported Mr Ringim’s position that there should be no mercy for the criminals who only want quick money.