Tension as kidnappers occupy Owukpa communities, residents, travellers in fear

Owukpa, a district in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue state, has become a refuge for kidnappers.

At the time of writing, over ten communities are under siege, with kidnappers terrorizing the inhabitants.

Residents of Ankpa, Odobe, Umufu, Ubafu, Atamaka, Ai-Fam, and their surrounding communities are now terrified as criminal elements terrorize them with impunity.

Commuters are not immune.

Over the last five months, more than 100 people have been kidnapped, with certain routes proving more dangerous than others.

The Aho-Ankpa and Atakama-Ugbugbu roads have become well-known as centers for criminal activity.

Several incidents have also occurred on the Orokam-Owukpa and Okpoga-Aifam roads.

This has generated worries about the safety of passengers traveling along these routes.

Platinumtimes has learned that a family of eight was recently kidnapped on Atamaka road.

The kidnappers threatened to kill them if the family did not pay the ransom requested on time.

The victims, who had been held captive for days, described their ordeal.

Daniel, one of the survivors, revealed that the kidnapping began at 2 p.m., but they arrived at the kidnappers’ camp by 10 p.m.

He told our reporter that the perpetrators converse effectively in both Hausa and Fulani.

Fear has gripped Owukpa locals, causing them to travel in convoys for safety.

During the holiday season, a local named John was kidnapped on his wedding night while returning from Aho Ogbo market. His release required the family to pay a ransom.

Similarly, Engr Raymond and his wife, Mrs Cordelia Agada, were kidnapped recently along the Owukpa-Aifam-Okpoga road.

Frustrated by the increasing threats, the women of Owukpa summoned the deity Ekwuanya in 2023 against any Owukpa son engaging in abduction crimes.

This spiritual intervention, however, appeared to have little or no influence on the prevailing threat.

Kidnappers operate with impunity, despite the presence of local community guards.

In an interview with Platinum Times, HRH Emmanuel Odeh, the traditional ruler of Ogbadibo, voiced grave concern about the deteriorating security situation.

He blamed the mayhem on Owukpa’s vulnerability because to its proximity to neighboring states Enugu and Ebonyi, porous borders, and huge forest areas.

Odeh criticized the government’s ineffective response, citing a lack of law enforcement personnel in Owukpa as well as a ban on civilian gun ownership, which left villagers vulnerable against well-armed kidnappers.

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.

“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 Platinumtimes,

“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.”

He also lamented the lack of essential weapons for the vigilante group in the village to confront the kidnappers.

However, he stressed the need for more support from the government, particularly in the provision of weapons to enhance their effectiveness in tackling the security challenges.

“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.