By Onyemachi Onyenwe, Owerri
As businesses continue to crash in Imo State with kidnappings for ransom and rituals out of hand, the police and the army seem to stir.
This is because people can longer sleep with their two eyes closed. And these, immensely have contributed to the closing of many businesses, and the stunted growth of others, especially in the manufacturing, and hotel and hospitality sectors of the Imo State economy.
Owerri, the Imo State capital as well as the Cosmopolitan city where nightlife and other night activities used to thrive, is now a shadow of itself as those economic activities have all vanished. This is said to be as a result of the increasing rate of abductions, kidnappings for ransom and rituals, and other societal vices.
To curb the violent crimes, the Imo State Police Command, in close collaboration with the military and other security agencies in the State has launched a specialized operation aimed at dismantling kidnappings, armed robbery attacks, and other violent criminal syndicates.
In the State, the flash points where the criminals seem to intensify their nefarious activities in the recent times are Obinze, Ihiagwa, Avu, Federal University of Technology (FUTO) axis, Port Harcourt Road in Owerri, Aba Road, Ngor/Okpala and other areas in the State.
According to Aboki Danjuma, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, “The joint effort underscores our unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our communities. The operation will leverage the combined expertise and resources of both agencies to bring those responsible for these criminal acts to justice”.
Recent reports of increased kidnapping incidents in these areas have raised significant concerns among residents and students, he said.
And in response to these, he stated that the Imo State Police Command has deployed a team of highly trained personnel to conduct focused operations aimed at neutralizing the threat posed by these criminal elements.
“Our objective is to restore peace and security to the affected communities and to guarantee that educational institutions, including FUTO, remain safe environments for learning.
To this, the Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, has solicited the maximum cooperation of the general public in this effort and urged the residents in the State to report any suspicious persons or clandestine activities to the nearest police station promptly.
“By working together, we can enhance our efforts to combat these criminal elements effectively.
“The Command, alongside our military partners, remains committed to upholding law and order and will continue to provide updates on the progress of the operations as they become available”, he said.
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