FRSC confirms abduction of two officers by gunmen

The Federal Highway Security Corps (FRSC) in Ebonyi State, has confirmed the kidnapping of two of its officers by gunmen alongside the Abakaliki-Enugu federal freeway.

The Information Company of Nigeria (NAN) studies that the street has lately develop into nightmarish for commuters attributable to incessant abductions by gunmen.

Essentially the most affected axis is the Nkalagu (Ebonyi) and Idodo (Enugu) axis of the street because the circumstances of the abductions hold rising day by day.

The Sector Commander of the FRSC in Ebonyi State, Henry Igwe, instructed journalists on Tuesday in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, that each officers had been kidnapped on 8 March.

Mr Igwe remarked that each officers concluded their duties on the corps’ Nkalagu workplace and had been kidnapped as they returned to Enugu.

“Contacts had been made, and it was established by their households that they by no means received house.

“The households mentioned that some folks contacted them that they had been kidnappers and had been demanding ransom.

“The negotiations are between the households and kidnappers and as an organisation, we’ve got been doing the a lot we are able to,” he mentioned.

FRSC headquarters, safety businesses notified

The sector commander mentioned his workplace has knowledgeable its headquarters of the event and formally reported to related safety businesses.

“That is the a lot I do know of the scenario, and we’re optimistic that they are going to be launched by whoever is holding them.

“The scenario could be very unlucky and the insecurity within the nation has made everybody weak.

“Our vulnerability is increased as a result of we discover ourselves on the street all the time, uncovered to those types of risks,” he mentioned.

He famous that it has not been established that the personnel had been both alive or lifeless however the truth remained that they haven’t been seen.

“The core safety businesses mentioned that efforts to seek out the personnel are nonetheless being made and so they weren’t amongst those who had been launched.

“Not a lot has been heard positively from their households and although the scenario continues to be scary, we pray that luck will shine on us and them.”

‘Worrisome’

Chinwe Oli, a commuter who plies the street commonly, described the scenario as worrisome and chided the governments of each states for being nonchalant over the event.

“What’s going to it take each governments to mobilise related safety outfits to flush the hoodlums from the little house they occupy as their operational base?” she queried.

State authorities, police

Jude Okpor, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Data and Orientation, dismissed the insinuation that the state authorities was nonchalant concerning the scenario.

“The state authorities has surmounted a number of safety challenges within the state and is resolutely defending the lives and properties of its residents.

“The matter has inter-state connectivity and the federal government has initiated measures with its affected sister-state, to nip it within the bud,” he mentioned.

Joshua Ukandu, a deputy superintendent of police and Police Public Relations Officer in Ebonyi State, urged households of victims to report such incidents to the command to allow it to determine whether or not the incident occurred on the Ebonyi State axis of the street.

“The scenario is extra of an Enugu State concern and data on it must be sought from the Enugu command of the drive.

“I imagine some steps are being taken to fight it, however our safer freeway groups stationed on the affected axis all the time help commuters to cross safely from the realm,” he mentioned. (NAN)