Hotels and forests are to be combed by traditional rulers and other community leaders in Imo State, taking up the gauntlet thrown down by Governor Rochas Okorocha to smoke them out of their hideouts and end the reproach of ritual killings and abduction for ransom.
The exercise will take place in partnership with security operatives.
Okorocha has warned that traditional rulers will be held responsible for kidnap cases in their domain.
He has also directed that all hotels and uncompleted buildings be searched by security agents.
Avu, Irete take lead
Taking the lead are community leaders in Avu and Irete, which Okorocha described as two of the major dens of kidnapper following security reports and public outcry.
Avu and Irete are about 20 kilometres from Owerri.
A former council chairman, who did not want his name in print for security reasons, confirmed that he is working with security operatives and the residents of Avu community, including traditional rulers, to comb all forests in the area.
Owners of uncompleted buildings will be given conditions under which their buildings will continue to stand.
The source urged all residents of Avu to expose every unknown persons whose activities are suspicious.
He said the “activities of kidnappers were visible in the area and it was dealt with by the security operatives. Last year, there were lots of cases from Avu and Umuguma and some of the kidnappers were arrested.”
A resident of Avu confided that “I am aware of reported kidnap cases within this our area, but we don’t speak out. We avoid passing through lonely areas in the community, people close their shops and go to bed early.
“Security agents should come to Avu and check uncompleted buildings and buildings with high fences and suspicious vehicular movements.”
Over 50 kidnap cases have been reported in Imo in the past few months.
Operation by DSS
In July, Department of State Security (DSS) personnel, led by Francis Ejiofor, arrested an alleged kidnappers’ kingpin, Henry Chibueze (alias Vampire) and his gang at Desney Hotel on Onitsha Road, Owerri after they planned to abduct Imo State Electoral Tribunal judges.
Members of the gang include a runaway soldier, Akeem Bello, who confessed that he provided cover for the kidnappers; and a native doctor, Dan Elengi, who owns Honey Moon Hotel, Owerri.
Interrogation by Okorocha
Upon interrogation by Okorocha when they were paraded by the DSS, Chibueze, who hails from Nwangele Council in the state, pleaded to be kept in detention by the DSS so he could rest his head.
Okorocha disclosed that the State Security Council has set up a special security team to deal with cult activities and promised to continue to assist the operatives in the task.
He donated Hilux security branded vehicles to the security agencies.
Chibueze’s confessions
Chibueze, 28, confessed that he has killed many kidnap victims, including his girlfriend resident in Lagos.
He also confessed that out of N110 million he made from a victim resident in Omoku, Rivers State, he gave his girlfriend N45 million to keep but killed her when he realised that the money was stolen from her.
He said he has been in the kidnapping business for long but those who introduced him to it are dead.
Bello’s confessions
Bello confessed that he escaped Boko Haram’s attack when he was deployed in the North East.
He said he deserted the Army, joined the kidnappers and provided security for them with his military identity card as they conveyed victims through the roads.
International gang
Ejiofor disclosed that the gang traversed Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, and Congo, and security operatives had been trailing it.
He said Chibueze had earlier escaped with bullet wounds in Imo State but was tracked down in Ohafia, Abia State, on a tip off.
