The district of Owukpa in the Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State is currently experiencing a severe security crisis, with a significant rise in kidnapping incidents.
Over ten communities, including Ankpa, Odobe, Umufu, Ubafu, Atamaka, and Ai-Fam, have been affected, leaving residents in a state of fear due to the rampant criminal activities.InformationGuideNigeria
DAILY POST reported that in the past five months, more than 100 individuals have been kidnapped in this area, with certain roads like Aho-Ankpa, Atakama-Ugbugbu, Orokam-Owukpa, and Okpoga-Aifam becoming notorious for these crimes. This situation has understandably raised serious concerns about the safety of both residents and travelers along these routes.JAMB Portal
One particularly distressing incident involved the kidnapping of a family of eight on Atamaka road, where the kidnappers threatened their lives over a delayed ransom payment. The survivors of this ordeal, including one named Daniel, shared their traumatic experiences, noting that the kidnappers communicated fluently in Hausa and Fulani languages.NYSC Portal
The escalating threat has led to changes in how residents move around, with many opting to travel in convoys for increased safety. Even local festivities have been marred by these incidents, as demonstrated by the kidnapping of a community member named John on his wedding night, and the abduction of Engr Raymond and his wife, Mrs. Cordelia Agada.
In response to these threats, women in Owukpa resorted to invoking the local deity Ekwuanya against those involved in kidnapping. However, this spiritual intervention has had little to no impact in deterring the kidnappers.JAMB Result
HRH Emmanuel Odeh, the traditional ruler of Ogbadibo, in his interview with DAILY POST, expressed grave concerns over the situation. He attributed the vulnerability of Owukpa to factors such as its proximity to neighboring states, porous borders, and extensive forest areas. Odeh criticized the government for its inadequate response to the crisis, highlighting the lack of law enforcement personnel and the ban on civilian gun ownership, which leaves residents defenseless against well-armed criminal elements.
He said, “The insecurity issue in Owukpa is well beyond our control, primarily due to our proximity to two neighbouring states- Enugu and Ebonyi.
“This leaves us vulnerable to external attacks, compounded by the extensive forest areas that provide cover for kidnappers.
“The crux of the matter lies in the insufficient efforts from the government.
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“For instance, Owukpa lacks even six policemen and critical areas like Eke Akpa, Aho Ogbo, Ipole Owukpa or Ai Fam have no police presence whatsoever.
“I have been requesting this for over 10 years, but the government claims they lack a sufficient number of police officers.
“This is a serious concern for a community with a population of over 139,000.
“Compounding the problem is the fact that those attempting to confront the criminals are armed only with dane guns, a stark mismatch against the sophisticated weapons wielded by the perpetrators.”
Amos Agada, the Commander of Constabulary Police in Ehaje II, expressed deep concern about the situation, describing it as disturbing.
He told DAILY POST, “As we speak, nowhere is safe in Owukpa again. At the moment, they are seriously operating in Ipiga Ai-Odu.
“In fact, just yesterday, they hijacked a fully-loaded bus and kidnapped all passengers. They have not even contacted the families yet.”
“We are doing our best with the limited resources available, but additional support, especially in the form of weapons, is crucial to bolster our efforts against these criminals,” he said.
