Two FRSC official abducted along Abakaliki-Enugu federal highway
File photo – FRSC operatives
Published By: Ayorinde Oluokun
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By Chukwuemeka Opara
Two officials of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), in Ebonyi, have been abducted by yet-to-be-identified gunmen along the Abakaliki-Enugu federal highway.
The FRSC officials were were abducted on March 8 after they concluded their duties at the corps’ Nkalagu office and they were returning to Enugu.
Sector Commander of the FRSC in Ebonyi, Henry Igwe confirmed the abduction of the FRSC officials to journalists on Tuesday in Abakaliki
He said it has been established by the families of the missing men that they never got home while the alleged kidnappers have demanded ransom to set them free.
“The families said that some people contacted them that they were kidnappers and were demanding ransom.
“The negotiations are between the families and kidnappers and as an organisation, we have been doing the much we can,” he said.
The sector commander said his office has informed its headquarters of the development and also formally reported to relevant security agencies.
“This is the much I know of the situation and we are optimistic that they would be released by whoever is holding them.
“The situation is very unfortunate and the insecurity in the country has made everyone vulnerable.
“Our vulnerability is higher because we find ourselves on the road always, exposed to these sort of dangers,” he said.
He noted that it has not been established that the personnel were either alive or dead but the fact remained that they have not been seen.
“The core security agencies said that efforts to find the personnel are still being made and they were not among those that were released.
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“Not much has been heard positively from their families and though the situation is still scary, we pray that luck will shine on us and them.”
The road has recently become nightmarish for commuters due to incessant abductions by gunmen.
The most affected axis is the Nkalagu (Ebonyi) and Idodo (Enugu) axis of the road as the cases of the abductions keep increasing daily.
Mrs Chinwe Oli, a Commuter who plies the road regularly, described the situation as worrisome and chided the governments of both states for being nonchalant over the development.
“What will it take both governments to moblise relevant security outfits to flush the hoodlums from the little space they occupy as their operational base?” she queried.
Mr Jude Okpor, Ebonyi Commissioner for Information and Orientation, dismissed the insinuation that the state government was nonchalant on the situation.
“The state government has surmounted several security challenges in the state and is resolutely protecting the lives and properties of its citizens.
“The matter has inter-state connectivity and the government has initiated measures with its affected sister-state, to nip it in the bud,” he said.
DSP Joshua Ukandu, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ebonyi, urged families of victims to report such incidents to the command to enable it establish whether the incident happened at the Ebonyi axis of the road.
“The situation is more of an Enugu issue and information on it should be sought from the Enugu command of the force.
“I believe some steps are being taken to combat it but our safer highway teams stationed at the affected axis always assist commuters to cross safely from the area,” he said.
(NAN)
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