Kidnappers hold Anambra, entire South-east to ransom
‘How many of the big men from the South-east are going home now? All of them have fled home. So, all the jobs they would have helped to create are gone. It’s a serious situation. In fact, a critical one. It is a very sad situation’
It is popularly believed that a maiden’s wedding day is among the happiest moments in any woman’s life. Interestingly, in Nigeria
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| Nigeria's Police chief, Hafiz Ringim. |
In some cases, the suitor has to make more than one trip to his prospective wife’s village before the NLC observances were complete. Normally, going to to the girl’s homestead enabled her future spouse and his accompanying relatives to really understand her background. In the same vein, the sojourn afforded the husband-to-be and his parents the opportunity to look into their potential in-laws’ background and history.
During such trips, relevant investigations were made to ensure that no incidents of theft, insanity or some other blemish trailed the prospective spouse’s family. This visit also helped to drive home the point to every member of the maiden’s original community that she was spinster no more.
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| This Town Crier statue at Adazi-Nnukwu Town Hall could well be taken as a warning of the scourge of kidnapping ravaging Anambra State settlements. PHOTO: MAURICE ARCHIBONG |
Painfully, however, owing to the fear of kidnappers; many Igbo families are now forced to conduct Iku-aka n’uzo or Igba-nkwu (Introduction et cetera) outside their villages. Those that have had to take such vital observances to
The story is told of an 85-year-old grandma of Anambra origin, who was kidnapped a few days to the date of the traditional wedding of one of her grand-daughters. The bride-to-be happened to be resident in the US
But, the senior citizen; had, probably due to shock, given up the ghost after being seized by her captors. Consequently, the kidnappers; who had dumped the woman’s body somewhere and vanished without trace, stopped pestering the deceased’s relatives over where to drop the ransom.
Although these rogue elements got no money, they had put a bitter tinge on what was supposed to be someone’s Happy Day. The traditional wedding in the bride’s village was called off because the grand-daughter, in the course of being informed of her grandma’s abduction; had been advised to cancel all plans of coming home to avoid being picked up herself.
There is also the case of another Anambra-born lady (names withheld), who is married to a white national of one of the EU (European Union) countries. Now an EU citizen by marriage, the Nigerian-born woman was her mother’s only daughter. Sadly, despite the decades-long bond of affection between mother and daughter until the former’s transition; the Europe-based lady was advised against coming home to attend her mother’s funeral.
The reason: she would be targetted by kidnappers, thus compounding the family’s grief; if she were abducted. That, in a nutshell; is how this lady was denied the opportunity of paying her departed mum, the proverbial last respects. Truly, few things could be more heart-rending.
Yes, kidnappers and their despicable occupation have taken a huge toll on all states in Nigeria Onitsha
Across Adazi-Nnukwu, fear of kidnappers in the air
Last August 27 was this year’s Iwa ji Day in the Anambra State town of Adazi-Nnukwu
“We live in fear, here. So, the event was only symbolic because the man that was supposed to cut the yam; in the absence of of the king, had been kidnapped”. This was the way one senior citizen in this Anambra town encapsulated the plight of Adazi-Nnukwu inhabitants.
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| Adazi-Nnukwu Development Union Hall. |
The last king of Adazi-Nnukwu, Chief Michael Obidiume Orjiakor III (Adama), died more than two years ago; and, going by local tradition; the clan head of Nnukwu, Chief L. C. Oragwu; should sit-in for the local monarch during rites of passage like cutting the new yam heralding the harvest season. However, this year’s observance of the festivities was peculiar, it was a mere symbolic ritual, which featured neither singing nor dancing because even the clan head, supposed to hold fort in the absence of the town’s monarch; had been missing for months.
Ihembosi: Town’s king kidnapped since May 25 still missing
At Ihembosi, a town within Ekwusigo Local Government Area (LGA) of Anambra, the paramount ruler (Igwe Ihembosi) was kidnapped seven months ago. To date, none is sure of the man’s fate or whereabouts. mauricearchibongtravels gathered that the kidnappers had initially demanded N20million as ransom, after snatching the igwe.
At that time, Chief Ebuka Onunkwo, President General of Ihembosi Progress Assembly (IPA) was on a trip outside the African continent and could not be reached by phone. In any case, after striking a deal with the kidnappers, some money was to be handed over to them for the king’s freedom. Although none would confirm this information, mauricearchibongtravels gathered; through painstaking investigation, that at the point, where money was going to change hands, the transaction went awry.
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| Igwe Ihembosi, HRH Jerry Okorie, kidnapped seven months ago. |
Security operatives, who were monitoring the situation closely succeeded in nabbing at least one suspect. Curiously, however, more than six months since his arrest; this bird would not squeal.
Is a king like some needle in a haystack? Could a town’s crowned head simply disappear without trace? These are just a few of many questions rankling in the minds of inhabitants of various towns in Anambra State
Nnewi: Kidnappers hold Nigeria
Welcome to Nnewi, home of Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. Ironically, to the kidnappers that hold Nnewi hostage, it does not matter that this settlement is hometown of a generalissimo. Then Colonel Ojukwu, later decorated Eze Gburu-gburu, was leader of the secessionist Biafran Republic; but, these mean nothing to devil-daring kidnappers, who play warlords across Nnewi abducting law-abiding citizens at will almost without any trammels.
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| Nnewi North Council Secretariat. |
Nnewi is also home of, arguably,
Chief Sam Okey Nwosu, business magnate and political commentator, helped to put this in perspective during a chat with mauricearchibongtravels in 2004. Hear him: “In Nnewi, there are industries that fabricate all sorts of auto spare-parts; engine components, brake-pads, bolts, nuts and what have you. The products of some of these companies even out-class imported ones.
“For example, Cutix and Joalis wires are generally preferred to imported ones because users regard these products as being among the best in the world. Another worthy example is Innoson Group, which produces motorbikes with more than 40 per cent Nigerian content. There are countless other manufacturers across Nnewi, which is why people call this town Little Japan”.
Chief Nwosu had gone on to reason that, “With this endowment, Anambra should have been industrialized long ago”. Unfortunately, this has not been the case. So, what is the drawback? Chief Nwosu had those days primarily fingered “epileptic power supply”. These days, Nnewi-based manufacturers do not only have Nigeria
Kidnappers’ nefarious activities threaten to send the more resilient and patriotic manufacturers that have persevered, against all odds, packing up and leaving town. At some point, an average of 15 people were kidnapped on daily basis, according to reports. By January, 2011; the spate of kidnappings in Nnewi was so alarming that it threatened the very soul of this town. To pre-empt a collapse of Nnewi’s economy due to exodus of entrepreneurs from this settlement; a coalition of concerned citizens, including sundry professionals and traders et cetera, cried out to President Goodluck Jonathan as well as the Inspector-General of Police and the Chief of Army Staff, among others, to save them.
In fact, the crime wave even provoked invocation of spiritual powers to evict undesirable elements from the settlement. In deed, Nnewi’s monarch, Igwe Kenneth N. Orizu, once convened an ecumenical service at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, where Bishops Odili Okeke and G.I.N Okpala of the Catholic and Anglican Dioceses of Nnewi respectively; led supplications to God for divine intervention.
However, it would seem that the kidnappers chose to stay put; for, eight months down the road; many frightened inhabitants, who spoke to mauricearchibongtravels in Nnewi claimed their situation is immutatus (unchanged) and therefore still intolerable. As a result, another round of letters were again wired to Mr. President and others requesting the deployment of soldiers to watch over Nnewi.
The intolerable rate of kidnappings prompted a rally last August, during which leaders of the famous Nkwo-Edo Auto Spare Parts Market as well as Nzuko-Ora (the Elders Council in Nnewi), and the town’s union leaders et cetera practically issued the proverbial red-card to people without visible means of livelihood to leave town.
On Wednesday, August 10, 2010; virtually the whole of Nnewi converged on the entrance of Nkwo Nnewi Market, the town’s principal emporium aka Main Market as early as 7am. The rally was convoked to demonstrate the town’s inhabitants’ disgust and displeasure over the alarming frequency of kidnappings.
The protest followed another open letter, addressed to President Goodluck Jonathan, dated August 9, 2011. Titled, “A call to save our soul as kidnappers, armed robbers over-run Nnewi”; the memo issued by Concerned Nnewi Stakeholders Forum (CNSF) had requested, among others; “That, the rescue of those still held by kidnappers be made a national project by deploying soldiers to Nnewi for the rescue of these victims”; and, “that, the State Security Services (SSS) and other security agencies be tasked on effective intelligence gathering in and around Nnewi”.
According to inscriptions on some placards displayed by the protesters, kidnappers had by August 9, 2011 preyed on 68 Nnewi dwellers. In deed, reports of new victims had become a daily affair, according to statements from the CNSF. Akin to Chief Emmanuel Uba, a very important personality that was at that time still a guest of his kidnappers, who had demanded N70million ransom for the man’s release; almost all the victims of abduction in these parts have been wealthy and notable personalities, like lawyers, doctors, bankers and industrialists.
None was therefore surprised to find so many of these professionals among the protesters. Consequent upon their turnout in large numbers, every business in town practically shut down for the better part of that day, while the agrieved residents called on relevant leaders and agencies to rise to the occasion.
One of the speakers at the gathering, Chief Agu Onyeka, who is Chairman of the socio-cultural organisation, Nzuko Ora Nnewi, implored various authorities to urgently arrest the lingering insecurity; while another stakeholder, Chief Gabriel Chukwuma, opined that elders could not fold their arms and allow Nnewi, which boasts over 80,000 traders and tens of thousands of employees that depend directly or indirectly on these enterpreneurs; to drown under insecurity.
Hear Mr. Gozie Akudolu, President of Nnewi Traders Association: “Since this kidnapping issue started, about 68 major importers and manufacturers in Nnewi have been kidnapped… More than 15 people died, while being held by kidnappers. Over 300 persons have fallen victim in one way or another.
“Presently, 10 people are still being held at different unknown locations, and efforts to rescue them continue to prove abortive, as their captors insist on impossible conditions for their release. As a result, over 130 major importers and manufacturers in Nnewi have relocated to other parts of Nigeria
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| Street in Nnewi near the Main Market, whose traders are targeted by kidnappers. |
In deed, the rue of Mr. Joseph Okeke, Nnewi Branch Secretary of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), that an average of 15 people were abducted on daily basis in the town, further drove in the point. “I live in this town, so I know kidnapping has caused a plethora of businesses to shut down here”. This is why more Nigerians and expatriates are afraid of investing in Nnewi, we were told. Speaking further, the NBA scribe remarked: “This is the reason, we are appealing to all relevant authorithies to create an anti-kidnap squad of the Nigerian Police in
So frightening and pervasive were the stories of kidnappings in some media that the spokesman of Anambra State Police Command, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka, had to call a press conference; where he presented a much lesser number of victims. Contrary to the staggering and often conflicting figures of victims bandied by some towns’ dwellers, the Police PRO claimed, during a conversation with one of our correspondents, that only eight persons had been kidnapped in Nnewi.
Mr. Chukwuemeka had added that, “out of that number, seven had actually been rescued by the police”. Hear him: “We have gone to our records and discovered that in the whole of Nnewi Command, comprising 16 Divisions; only 24 kidnap cases have been recorded. Out of this number, only eight persons were ever kidnapped in Nnewi Town
Calling on all citizens to join hands with the police and operatives of other security organs to curb crimes, Mr. Chukwuemeka declared: “Security is not the monopoly of security agents. Therefore, we ask Anambrarians to furnish us with credible and verifiable information that will help us serve them better. It is part of our civic responsibility as Nigerians”.
Interestingly, two traders at Nnewi Main Market, Messrs Akudolu and Okeke; during separate interviews with mauricearchibongtravels, contested the statistics provided by the Police PRO.
Hear Akudolu: “That (eight victims) might be the police record. I am not in a position to declare their statistics as false. But our own record says that over 68 people have been kidnapped”. For emphasis, Akudolu stressed; “From the Market’s record”, more “than 68 people have been kidnapped from the town. It is we, who wear the shoes that can tell the world, where it pinches”.
While commending Anambra Governor, Mr. Peter Obi; “for his assistance in this issue”; Akudolu lamented: “It is sad to note that despite all he (Gov. Obi) has done to equip the police in the state, we are still witnessing this type of crime surge”.
On his part, Mr. Okeke was even more scathing. Hear him: “With the exception of one victim from the Orizu Royal Family, who was released by his captors, after ransom was paid; the police have not rescued anybody from kidnappers in this town. I don’t know anybody who has been rescued or released (without payment of ransom). You know the police will not tell you the truth because they want to protect their job. And people, who would ordinarily give them information, do not trust them. But, I must commend the Area Commander here and his team”.
According to Okeke, the Area Commander and his subordinates “have been working assiduously to improve our lot. Governor Obi has donated state-of-the-art equipment to the police. Let them sit up and protect us”, the lawyer pleaded.
Whatever the position of either side, the fact remains that kidnappers have been enjoying a field day in these parts. As one respondent submitted, “although the figure provided by the police is much lower than what is popularly held, the truth is that; eight incidents amount to eight kidnaps too many”.
Inside Ihembosi
From Nnewi, we came through Ozubulu road to Ubahu Okija and finally into Ihembosi in Ekwusigo LGA. From the somewhat smooth asphalt-finished major road, we turned into a sharply undulating crater-infested street. This is Umuabu Road palace of Igwe Ihembosi
At the entrance to the compound, where the two-floor palace stands, we found two men. When told that I was a writer from Lagos and needed to speak with one of the town’s chiefs in connection with a forthcoming report, one of the men turned his gaze upwards; and, and looking toward the balcony; called out: “Lolo, lolo!”
While waiting for Lolo to emerge, we had followed the man’s perspective on the balcony, too. There, we sighted two children; and, our heart went out to these young ones, who had been deprived the comfort and companionship of their father for months. Although we tried to suppress a sinking feeling of pessimism, nonetheless; one could not help wondering, if these young ones were ever going to see their dad again.
The appearance of a dark-complexioned lady on the balcony, jerked us out of our reverie. After our mission was explained to her, she had suggested that we should be directed to the home of someone else. But, suddenly remembering that this particular personality might not be disposed to speaking to us, as he was bereaved and at a funeral house, at the time; the woman advised us to try and locate the residence of Chief Eriobuna.
A retired judicial service staff, Chief MCR (Mark Chinyelude Raphael) Eriobuna, is also 2nd Vice President of Ihembosi Progress Assembly (IPA) and now resides in his country home. On the way to Eriobuna’s home, we found ourselves back on the township’s major road, where my guide stopped a local okada (motorbike taxi) operator; and asked him to lead us to the chief’s home, for a fee. A few minutes’ ride through a narrow village road brought us to something of a four-way intersection. To the left, we sighted a Catholic Church; while a group of okada riders stood to the right waiting for passengers. It was here we turned right and found the local market to our left. Within a minute, while savouring the surrounding topography of steeply undulating landscape spotting lush vegetation and dotted by a few palatial mansions here and there; we were back on the asphalt-coated road.
The local bike rider slowed down to allow us catch up with him, and riding parallel to his bike, the man said we were almost there. Immediately afterwards, he turned right into a compound with three buildings, one of them, an antique bungalow apparently built during the colonial era by someone, who must have been learned and comfortable in those days.
I was actually looking forward to entering this quaint bungalow to enjoy the views of the typical black and white portraits of family members that usually adorn the walls of the sitting room and corridors of such homes. But, it was to the comparatively much newer two-floor building we were herded by a young man that came out to receive us.
We were led upstairs and offered seats in the sitting-room; and, advised to wait. Some 10 minutes later, the same young man had returned to assure us that the chief would see us. To kill time, while waiting; I chose to keep busy by bringing out my cameras to review pictures of the horrible roads we had survived travelling across in the course of our latest South-east and South-south expeditions. Before I could sink into this past-time, the chief walked into the room. Reflexively, we all rose to greet our host.
He sat down and saying we should sit; requested we introduce ourselves and explain our mission. We did as we were told, after which Eriobuna said he couldn’t speak to us in his capacity as 2nd Vice President of IPA; without authorization.
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| Chief Mark Raphael Eriobuna. |
In this chief’s view, IPA has a world-wide President General, and even a First Vice President. So, why were we interested in him, the Second Vice President? The answer was simple, we explained; many of the others lived away from home, and the one that was in town was at a funeral house. A somewhat meticulous personality, Chief Eriobuna called out to someone in the house to fetch his mobile phone. On being handed the handset, he dialled some numbers. Apparently due to fluctuating GSM network signals, he couldn’t get through to those he wished to speak with.
Chief Eriobuna later told us he even tried some numbers in Benin Republic
Chief Eriobuna
As prelude to his comments, Chief Eriobuna emphasized: “I am not speaking for the community or the town union”. Following reassurances from us that, the distinction he sought would be projected, the chief continued: “As a citizen and indigene of this town, I can tell you that our traditional ruler, Igwe Jerry Okorie, was kidnapped”.
As to the actual date that the monarch was abducted, Eriobuna replied: “I cannot say, when exactly he was kidnapped; but, three weeks after a squabble between the king and his cabinet was resolved, there was speculation that igwe was missing”.
To clue us in on the period, we had further probed: “When was the difference between the igwe and his courtiers resolved”? “This was around April, several months ago”, the senior citizen recalled.
According to Chief Eriobuna, the community had subsequently sent a report of this shocking development to the Anambra State
And, what followed? Eriobuna again: “We learnt that some arrests were made. Following revelation that one Okechukwu Udezuka, believed to be gang leader, is among the men from Oraifite (a neighbouring town); who knew the whereabouts of our king, we were mandated; in our traditional way, to take kola-nut and wine to the king there, and to tell him how his subject had kidnapped our traditional ruler.
“Incidentally, the visiting cabinet did not meet the king because he was not in town; but, a member of his own cabinet attended to us. After hearing us out, the man promised we will hear from them soon. Although Oraifite people condemned the act, and declared all suspected culprits wanted; however, months afterwards, even till today (September 7); nothing has been heard from Oraifite”.
Has there been reactions from the government or its agencies, consequent upon letters sent to them?
“I cannot say that government is not doing enough, because I know that Igwe Okorie enjoys good rapport with Gov Obi. Also, I cannot say that the traditional rulers are not doing anything, because the kidnapped king is their Public Relations Officer (PRO)”, Chief Eriobuna submitted.
At community level, the womenfolk had declared a Prayer Day, where every commercial activity was suspended, to pray for the release of Igwe Okorie. The Prayer Day observed by Ihembosi Women was particularly significant, because they dedicated the most important market day of the week, when they could have enjoyed huge trading and profits, to supplicate to God for the release of their monarch, we gathered.
In the same vein, “Plans are in the pipeline by the men folk to suspend this year’s Iwa ji festivities, and again dedicate that day (last Saturday in September) to more prayers for their king to regain his freedom”, Eriobuna revealed.
And, so it was that, when the entire town of Ihembosi
And now, a painful question to ask; but, a candid one nonetheless: “The Igwe of Ihembosi was kidnapped seven months ago. Was hope dimming, the community would ever find him”? The sharp retort from Chief Eriobuna was: “We don’t believe in speculation, we don’t welcome unnecessary hearsay; but, one can say with emphasis that our Igwe is still alive”.
But, when asked to expatiate to clue us in on the basis of his faith; Chief Eriobuna declared: “For security reason, I won’t want to dabble in efforts by agents of our country’s security apparatus”.
‘Kidnappers robbing youth of jobs’
Apart from the case of the missing paramount ruler, it could be recalled that the President General of Ihembosi Progress Assembly, Chief Ebuka Onunkwo, was once kidnapped. Chief Onunkwo, who holds the traditional title of Odozi-obodo I, was seized from his country home on July 12, 2010; and, his abductors collected N30million as ransom before setting him free on July 15.
This is how Chief Onunkwo, CEO of Bukas International Sarl, narrated his experience to mauricearchibongtravels last year: “I was sitting inside my house, when they came in. There were four of them, each man heavily armed. Although, there were many other people with me in the house, I was the only one the men dragged away”.
Further reminiscing on his nerve-racking ordeal, a sigh reflexively escaped Chief Onunkwo; when he rued: “It was a terrible experience”.
So, what lessons did he learn from this unnerving experience, and what advice would he give in the circumstance?
Hear Chief Onunkwo, who is also Igbo Leader in Benin Republic Nigeria
Evidently, the victim of kidnapping is usually not the only sufferer of a crime, whose nuisance value impacts on the entire society. Chief Onunkwo had to cough out N30million to buy back his freedom from kidnappers, and that money had been saved up through denying himself and his family certain luxuries over a long time. He had been saving up to raise funds to start a factory in eastern Nigeria
Other possible solutions
As to his views of the likely solution to the kidnap scourge, Onunkwo offered; “The solution calls for government to be up and doing with regard to the security of the country. Security of the lives and property of its citizens is the principal responsibility of any government. Part of the new strategy could be a review of the take-home of security operatives, because you cannot entrust food to the custody of a hungry man. The man would tamper with the food; his thinking would be: ‘Why should I starve to death, while preserving this food for the rich’? So, government must improve the conditions of service of people, who put their lives at risk for other peoples’ protection”.
It is worth noting that Onunkwo appreciates the fact that, irrespective of how huge security operatives’ wages become, certain incorrigible bad eggs, would always collude with criminal elements.
“We know that some people are hopelessly greedy; so, I know that salary review alone will not make crime disappear, but I believe that some people are involved in crimes like kidnapping and armed robbery because of hardship or want”, he reasoned.
Countless respondents suggested regular transfer and redeployments of security personnel. Their impression is hinged on the belief that, when a security agent spends a long time at a particular place, he might be drawn to interact with local rogue elements, including armed robbers and kidnappers.
There were also remarks that criminals frequently scout for accomplices among the police and other security agents. In the process, some operatives fall into the trap and get compromised. Such security agents subsequently metamorphose into kidnappers’ accomplices, armed robbers in uniform or the euphemistic fifth column.
Across Nigeria, traditional rulers, security personnel, bankers, lawyers, private enterpreneurs, public officials et cetera have fingered massive unemployment as a factor in the growing wave of crime in the country. Chief Onunkwo aptly summed up this perception, thus: “Let us compare it to an ailment; until the proper medication is administered, the sickness will not go away. So, we must get to the root of this crisis and apply the drastic measures that it calls for. It is a vicious cycle; people that should come and invest are scared away, everyone has fled. Without establishing more industries to curb the rising unemployment, the joblessness situation will continue to worsen, and the unsatisfactory security condition is one of the reasons kidnapping thrives in the South-east”.
Back to Adazi-Nnukwu
Back to Adazi-Nnukwu: Chief Oragwu was kidnapped, ironically on his way to church. Sources that spoke with mauricearchibongtravels in Adazi-Nnukwu on condition of anonymity revealed the clan-head had first gone to the local Catholic Church, for Mass.
It is worth noting that everyone now lives in fear across Adazi-Nnukwu: we rode into the town on an okada picked from another Anambra settlement. Although the commercial-bike operator knew his way to Adazi-Nnukwu, he wasn’t quite familiar with the location of the local palace. Therefore, we had to ask our way around. We stopped under an umbrella, where a trader sells recharge cards to ask for direction to the monarch’s residence.
Interestingly, the card vendor; a woman in her late 20s or early 30s, deliberately screamed out her response ostensibly so that as many as possible other people could hear and know our mission. And, before we could say igwe; it was as if the whole town had gathered around us out of curiosity.
Calmly, the bike-taxi operator had turned to an elderly man in the crowd and told him I was a visitor from Lagos Nigeria
I passed my particulars, as Nigerians say at police checkpoints; to the old man. Sensing that our mission was not going to give the community any headache, the crowd began to disperse. After studying my ID, the senior citizen advised us to turn off the main road at the second street to the left, and ask our way from anyone we saw on that road. Along a dirt road, after turning off the asphalt-coated highway leading to Igbo Ukwu, we saw another old man trudging up the undulating erosion-infested avenue.
As if reading my mind, the bike operator pulled over close to the senior citizen; even before I asked him to. Alarmed, the elder tactfully moved to one side; and, starred around frantically to see, if there was any other pedestrian in the street. There was none. Were he much younger, he would have taken to his heels; but, unable to take flight; the man put up a brave face, but it was obvious he was overwhelmed by fear.
In response to our request to be directed to the palace of the local traditional ruler, the old man claimed he had no idea. He said he was heading to a funeral, and that we should please ask someone else. “O, you will find many other people as you ride along”, he assured us in a quivering voice.
That, in a nutshell, is how we let this papa be. Following the dirt road, we eventually came upon the local library, built by Adazi-Nnukwu community; and, it was here, we found people at the small market nearby to direct us to the local town hall. However, we soon discovered that virtually everyone at the busy town hall was wary of speaking of kidnapping. Nonetheless, a few less frightened folks confirmed that the clan head of Adazi-Nnukwu was kidnapped.
From Adazi-Nnukwu, we headed for Awka, the Anambra State
We’re on top of the situation - Anambra Police PRO
Once, it was armed robbers Anambra inhabitants dreaded; but, today, violent robberies are rarely recorded. Criminal elements have found a more lucrative enterprise, kidnapping! Yes, the rewards from this venture are so tempting that it might prove impossible to stamp out the despicable business of abduction for money.
In saner climes, no county sheriff would sleep easy; where ordinary citizens groaned under insomnia triggered by fear. In any precinct beleaguered by crime, every police officer would strive to extirpate the culprits; in a normal setting. In the process, some policemen and women distinguish themselves by the number of crimes they bust and the criminals they succeed in sending to jail. That is how a security operative emerges as a hero/heroine.
With due apology to the truly dedicated officers in Nigeria Police Service (sorry Force); for, there are such ones in the mix; unfortunately, however, across Nigeria Africa ’s self-styled Giant in the sun, police chiefs distinguish themselves by the gargatuan sizes of their pot-bellies. This explains why the average Nigeria
Many Nigerians have, sadly, lost faith in some organs of their nation’s security service. Not surprisingly, countless respondents said Anambra is a good example of the Nigeria Police Force at its worst. The plethora of community vigilance groups must mean relief to many inhabitants that can now go about their businesses without falling prey to robbers’ bullets or being abducted for ransom.
However, most Nigerians see the current state of affairs, where local vigilance bodies have been hired by different communities for protection, as a classic vote of no confidence in the Nigeria Police. In deed, the repartee of one irreverent respondent was: “We have a Police Farce”. Continuing, while laughing heartilly, the fellow added: “Forget the meaningless Force in their name because the criminal elements holding Nigerians to ransom seem immune to their self-styled force”.
Analysts said the trend has been to throw more and more money into security votes over the years. Paradoxically, the feeling of insecurity and crime rate have spiralled over the last 12 years. It would seem that, the more the amount that was spent as security vote, the more the situation had degenerated. Observers opined the reason is not far-fetched: there would be no compelling need to hike the security vote, where safety and security reigned. Conspiracy theory? The situation speaks for itself…
Whatever the case, most Anambra inhabitants live in fear. From Adazi-Nnukwu to Nnewi; from Agulu to Nkpo or Onitsha Anambra State
When again contacted, during another chat with him on Thursday, October 6; Anambra Police spokesman, Mr. Chukwuemeka, enthusiastically informed that “Chief Emmanuel Uba had since been released”. With regard to the Igwe of Ihembosi and the head of Adazi-Nnukwu clan, the PPRO confirmed: “These two traditional rulers have not yet been released. But, the fact that they are yet to be released is not to say that police is not doing any thing. Concerning this matter, one suspect was arrested and is still in custody to help out with our investigations. We are doing everything possible to ensure the two traditional rulers are released, and with God on our side; we will effect their release.
“In deed, the Anambra Police Command under the current leadership has succeeded in substantially improving the situation. There are plain-clothe detectives at strategic places gathering intelligence and we are constantly monitoring potential flashpoints. This is one of the reasons that the incidents of kidnapping have dropped across Anambra State
Reacting to our observation that residents were still groaning under fear of kidnappers, despite all the incumbent police command has achieved, Mr. Chukwuemeka reiterated: “Records are there to prove that the rate has abated considerably, which means we have brought the situation under control and are capable of doing more, given credible information from members of the public. It is true that the scourge has not been wiped out completely. But, Police are not magicians; this is why every security agency needs the cooperation of the people”.
On the controversy surrounding the figures he gave, which fall far short of what is popularly bandied in the state; Mr. Chukwuemeka had this to say, “We don’t want to join issues unnecessarily. We keep record of every incident, including kidnap cases, which can be released in a few moments for relevant members of the public to see. Therefore, I can say; based on the records and the fact that crime rates have dropped in recent months, that; to this extent, we have been able to restore a sense of security in the populace”.
Anambra: A troubling paradox
The lingering fear of kidnappers is the reason an uncountable number of Igbo people dread going home, these days. Interestingly, of all the Igbo states currently groaning under kidnappings, the situation is most dire in Anambra State, which; paradoxically, has given Nigeria more distinguished personalities than any other region in the South-east geo-political zone.
The Rt. Hon Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Reverend Fr. Emmanuel Tansi, the only Nigerian to be beatified by the Catholic Church; Cardinal Emmanuel Arinze, Sir Louis Ojukwu, businessman extraordinaire; Chief Augustin Ilodibe of Ekene Dili Chukwu Transport Company fame; Dr. Chuba Okadigbo, a former Senate President; Dr. Nwafor Orizu, another one-time Senate President; Maths genius Prof. Chike Obi, Cyprian Ekwensi, Dr. Pius Okigbo, Chief Clement Akpamgbo and Ben Enwonwu are among deceased Nigerian heroes that Anambra gave Nigeria.
Chief Emeka Anyaoku, a former Secretary General of the Commonwealth; literary guru of world renown Prof. Chinua Achebe; Dr. Alex Ekwueme, a former Vice President of Nigeria, renowned architect, businessman and accomplished politician; Prof. Laz Ekwueme, an accomplished scholar, actor and traditional ruler; and, Prof. Uche Okeke, a celebrated artist and art scholar are also among the galaxy of stars of Anambra origin.
Aside these older folks, younger generation of Anambra’s wiz kids include celebrated computer scientist Philip Emeagwali; Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo, immediate-past Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria; World Bank Director Prof (Mrs.) Oby Ezekwesili; Prof (Mrs.) Dora Akunyili, who; as Director General of NAFDAC (National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control), was a thorn in the flesh of merchants of death masquerading as manufacturers or traders; Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Osita Chidoka; Chief Cosmas Maduka, founder of Coscharis Industries; Chief Cletus Ibeto of Ibeto Group of Industries; Chief Sam Okey Nwosu, an industrialist, business magnate, political commentator and proprietor of Marble Arch Hotels; and, Chief Ebuka Onunkwo (Odozi-obodo I), Chairman of Bukas International Sarl as well as President General of Ihembosi Progress Assembly.
Sadly, however, developments in different Anambra settlements nowadays are so depressing; it would be hard to imagine that this same state is where the above-named very important personalities hailed from.
On the irony that Anambra is worst hit, whereas this state has produced the highest number of Igbos among the Nigerian elite; this is what Chief Eriobuna had to say: “You can’t pin the kidnappers down to Anambra, alone. In fact, feelers we get indicate the principal culprits are natives of states outside Anambra. I know what our (Anambra) youth can do…They don’t have the liver for this kind of deadly engagements”.
How does one explain the high crime rate across Anambra now, and what was the atmosphere in previous decades that enabled this state to spawn so many great men and women?
Eriobuna again: “During our own time, we were very resourceful and dynamic, and we valued education. Today, the society no longer cherishes education or hard work. Leaders seem not to encourage education or reward hardwork. And, values have been turned on their heads. Nobody wants to know what you do for a living, priority has been shifted entirely to wealth. So, money has become everything. Today, a kidnapper can make N50million overnight; this is why kidnapping is rampant. O, the quest for money these days is shameful”.
Aside from misplaced priorities and distorted value system, Eriobuna also identified “lack of jobs and loss of interest in education” among reasons for the staggering crime rate. “Our boys are no longer reading or even interested in going to school. The situation is so bad and very saddening. I was in a committee to select post-WASCE students with Credit in 5 subjects for further training, and I was shocked because in my hamlet we couldn’t find three boys with credit in five subjects. And, the situation is similar in many other villages.
“The boys no longer value education. They look around and find many graduates languishing in poverty due to unemployment. So, our youth now see going to school as a waste of time. The average boy in the village prefers to engage in menial work, like carrying blocks at building sites or helping to till the soil or planting on farmland for daily wages. They want income on daily basis, and no longer want to be in school because even graduates are not seen as better-off. This is the tragedy of our situation”.
Now, having identified the problems; how does Chief Eriobuna think government should go about redressing the situation?
“Government should find a way to get children interested in going to school. Government should embark on aggressive campaigns to lure young ones to school; the younger generation must be made aware of the importance of education and knowledge. In my days, we were regularly reminded that ‘knowledge is power’, but in today’s Nigeria
“This is a mistake. So, government should foster awareness because education is the bedrock of any growth. I don’t see how an educated person can rise up to kidnap a fellow human-being for money”!
Nigerian kidnappers export expertise
Some Nigerians may have gravitated toward kidnapping to earn a living, since epileptic electricity supply has rendered manufacturing centres dysfunctional, thus robbing youths of employment opportunities.
And, like every “professional” sector, there are kidnapping practitioners determined to export their expertise for foreign exchange. This must explain why some Nigerian kidnappers took their trade overseas. For example, no fewer than six incidents of abduction for ransom were recorded in Cotonou , the economic capital of neighbouring Benin Republic
In deed, until early this year (2011); Nigerians resident in Cotonou Cotonou
Following negotiations, one of the kidnappers had gone to pick up the ransom. However, he practically walked into a police ambush and was made to lead the security operatives to where the captive was being held. There, the victim was freed and both kidnappers taken into detention. To verify their nationality, the Nigerian embassy had been called in, and a consular officer as well as a member of the Igbo community had visited the detainees in prison; whereupon it was confirmed that they are natives of Ahiazu-Mbaise.
Another of such ugly developments took place on Sunday, 21 November, 2010; when two children of Mr. Mike Orji, Assistant General Secretary of the Nigerian Community Union (NCU), Cotonou
Aside Mr. Orji; Mr. Innocent Otuohan, who hails from Mbitolu, Imo State; had also surrendered CFA2million (over N700,000) as ransom for the release of two of his sons seized by kidnappers. In the same vein, another Igbo victim was forced to pay CFA300,000 (over N100,000) as ransom to recover his two children, too.
Reacting to growing rumours since October 2010 that a kidnapping gang from Nigeria had invaded Benin Republic, and worried that any criminal act traced to a Nigerian could poison the cordial relationship between the host Beninoise community and law-abiding Nigerians who had been living in Cotonou and carrying out legitimate business for decades; members of the Igbo community had called a meeting, where the matter was discussed at length.
Rising from that gathering, it was agreed that a circular be sent to all relevant stakeholders calling on every Igbo in Cotonou
The memo had warned that anyone discovered to have haboured any kidnapper would be reported to the Beninoise security authorities. As the highest ranking member of the Nigerian community at that sitting, the lot had fallen on Mr. Orji to sign the circular; and, it is widely believed the kidnappers resorted to abducting his children as part of a grand design to intimidate the man as well as silence other prospective critics of their nefarious activities.
Interestingly, an emerging pattern in all the Cotonou kidnapping cases, was the criminals’ demand for the ransom money to be dropped for them inside a cemetery in the town of Ouidah , an ancient slave port settlement and lies west of Cotonou
Statistics, etymology of a global malaise
Etymology traces the root of kidnap to Scandinavia in Europe ’s north-west. In some Nordic tongues, kid refers to child. Add kid to nap, the slang word for, to snatch or steal; and, you have kidnap.
Nordic countries include Denmark , Finland , Norway and Sweden land of Somalia
In 1999, Nigeria
Within an eight-year period (1992-1999), 7,773 people were kidnapped in 10 countries. Interestingly, Colombia
Mexico, with 1,269 incidents, came a distant second; followed by Brazil (515) as well as Philipines (492), Russia or all former countries of the defunct USSR (250), Venezuela (109), India (76), Ecuador (66), Nigeria (34) and South Africa (11).
These figures were culled from records compiled by Hiscox Group, and authorities admit: they “do not purport to represent the full extent of the problem”. Interestingly, the reader is also advised to “bear in mind that only a tiny fraction (10 per cent?) of all kidnapping cases are reported to authorities for fear that (more reports and publicity) will trigger further kidnappings”.
The Rock Castle Rock Castle Rock Castle
It is worth noting that Nigeria
Nonetheless, it is important to note that even with the rising wave of kidnappings across Nigeria
Evidently, incidents of kidnapping world-wide must be much more than official records show; this is the reason varying figures spring up from different quarters. For various reasons, there will always be incongruity between actual incidents and reported cases.
In deed, the disparity between the figures given by Anambra Police Command spokesman and those from Nnewi Traders Association members could be attributed to this incongruity.
A Janus-faced wahala
How does one evade kidnappers’ radar? Does public display of generosity expose one to kidnappers or is it safer to be tight-fisted and pretend to be as poor as everyone else?
Hear the view of one respondent: “Some Anambra-born money-bags live in opulence outside their hometowns and seem completely disinterested in the welfare of cousins and other distant relations, who live in the village. But, during home-coming for funeral or wedding ceremony; such city-dwellers revel in ostentation, much to the annoyance of poorer kiths and kin. Experience has shown that such people are subsequently targetted, sometimes with the collusion of a relation, who serves as informant to kidnappers”.
Interestingly, we were also told that some individuals that are widely perceived as stinking rich but believe in “chopping alone” are despised by some community members for being stingy. Through the connivance of some unhappy relation, such “clams” have also been known to have fallen prey to kidnappers.
Either way, to squeeze their share out of the more prosperous ones in the land; a member of the clan could be tempted to collude with kidnappers with a view to getting a cut of the ransom.
“If you are wealthy, enjoy your wealth in a dignifying manner. Don’t flaunt it unnecessarily, thus making the have-not miserable. Also, find some way of helping the less-privileged ones in your family and community without being loud about it”. This was the counsel of an elder in one of the villages we toured.
Given this senior citizen’s advice, how does one then explain the kidnap of Chief Ebuka Onunkwo, who was abducted for ransom, despite his famed charitable disposition?
We turned to Chief Eriobuna again. “Under normal circumstances, no sane person would kidnap such a man”, this retiree observed. Our interpretation: The circumstances are apparently not normal or the kidnappers are insane; possibly both!
This explains why, whether one was given to philanthropy or was simply miserly, he or she was still a potential target of abduction for extortion. In deed, the situation is evocative of head, the kidnappers win; and, tail; hapless citizens still lose.
Paradoxically, in this Yuletide season, kidnappers; who incidentally also want to be part of a celebration commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ; could be plotting to abduct people that went home for the festivities. How sad…
By MAURICE ARCHIBONG
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