The Cross River State Police Command on Sunday disagreed
with youths in Obudu for planning to protest over the increasing rate of
kidnapping in community.
There have been several reported cases of kidnap in Obudu
with relatives paying at least N1m ransom to secure the release of victims.
Southern City News learnt youths, led by one Benedict Agba,
had hinted on their intention to protest along major roads.
Agba had gone also issued a seven-day ultimatum to the
police authority to transfer policemen from the Obudu division due to what he
referred to as “underperformance.”
He said, “Some of these policemen have been here for 10
years. Their familiarity with members of the communities around Obudu is making
them to underperform. We are calling for a mass transfer of the officers.
“We have informed all the chiefs and clan heads, the rate of
kidnapping in Obudu has gone haywire, something must be done.”
A resident of Obudu, Anayo Solomon, recalled some of the
recent cases of kidnapping included the February 2 abduction of a businessman
and palm wine dealer, Jude Agaba, popularly known as FG and the March 1 kidnap
of an hotelier, George Imanyi, among others.
He said, “Five days after FG’s release, a man simply
identified as Simon, who owns a pharmaceutical shop in Obudu was abducted at
about 8.30pm in his house. Obudu has seen a wave of kidnappings. In all these,
huge ransoms were paid.”
However, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hafiz Inuwa,
disagreed with the position of the youths that policemen in the division had
become relaxed in tackling crime.
Inuwa commended the role played by the divisional police
officer in the area in ensuring that kidnapped victims were rescued from the
abductors.
He blamed relatives of kidnap victims of complicity in most
of the matters being investigated, adding that most of the victims were always
swiftly taken from Obudu to neighbouring communities of Benue State.
The commissioner promised to carry out overhaul in the Obudu
division where necessary.
He said, “Nearly all the kidnappings have internal
collaborators and you know Obudu has border with Benue where these people are
taken to swiftly. The DPO has been doing his best to effect arrest in each of
the instances. For instance, three women and two men were arrested in
connection with the kidnap of a chemist shop owner.
“Crimes like robbery and kidnapping are very serious matters
that we do not play with and the DPO has been doing his best. However, we will
soon look at the books to redeploy those that have stayed in Obudu for too
long.”
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