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By Young E. Freeborn, Warri
As reports of kidnapping, banditry, raping and ritual killings make headlines on daily basis in many parts of the country, a new kidnappers’ den was allegedly discovered within the Ogor/Evwreni axis, along the Ughelli/Patani section of the East-West federal road recently.
The discovery was made following the lucky escape of some of the victims from the kidnappers’ den.
Speaking to our correspondent at Ughelli, one of the victims who didn’t want his name on print said, “I’m one of those that luckily escaped from the evil hands of these kidnappers.
“I was coming from Port-Harcourt to Ughelli when our vehicle was obstructed by them. The den is situated at that forest between Ogor and Evwreni communities. Inside the forest, they have huts and weapons where they keep their victims for different degrees of ransoms.
“I was able to escape because I’m from Eghwu town. I’m used to that forest because I worked there as a motor-sew operator many times. This is why I was able to escape from their hands. It was a terrible situation with us that very night. Many of the women and girls were raped by them. Our phones and luggage were also collected from us. I escaped through the mercy of God.”
He however called on security operatives in Ughelli to always search the said forest and rid the area of criminals. He also called on the leadership of both Ogor and Evwreni communities to join forces with the Delta State government to raid the forest and destroy their hiding places in the area.
Also speaking on the security challenge, a community leader from Edjokota-Ogor community who also spoke on condition of anonymity said, “What we have been hearing in far-away northern and eastern parts of the country has now crawled to our backyards. It’s no longer news in the radio or television or newspapers. We have heard of this security problem number of times.
“But my fear is that, the particular spot where these travellers are being kidnapped by these bad boys is a police checking point on the road. Are we now saying that, the police are not strong enough to destroy the den and get those boys arrested? Are their powers and weapons only meant to collect money from drivers?
“Secondly, we community leaders from Ogor and Evwreni communities must stand firm now to remove this bad name from our heads. Whether we accept it or not, our communities would be the first place of call if the police really want to do their jobs. We must therefore join hands with security operatives to raid that particular place and also our communities of every criminal.
“It’s a major security challenge to the Federal Government because the road in question is a federal road. Both the Inspector-General of Police and the Delta State commissioner of police should deploy a special troupe to that forest and destroy the den now,” he said.
All efforts to speak to the divisional police officer of the ‘A’ division of the Ughelli Police Station on this present security menace affecting travellers and other road users proved abortive as at the time of filing this report as none of his phone numbers were reachable.
