By Praise Chinecherem
Diaspora members of Amaokpala community in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State have expressed worry over rising insecurity in the state following kidnapping of one of their prominent sons, Mr. Ikechukwu Okeke.
Okeke, a United Kingdom-based professional and elder brother to Dr. Chukwudi Okeke, chairman of Oxfordshire Cherwell District Council, returned to Nigeria on December 27, 2024, to attend the funeral of his cousin, Mrs. Obiageli Okoli as well as visit his ailing parents.
He was said to be returning home from the funeral on January 10 at about 7:30 pm when the kidnappers, who unknown to him, had been trailing his movements.
The kidnappers reportedly rounded him up as he stopped at the gate of his residence, forced him out of his vehicle into a waiting Toyota Sienna and whisked him away.
The abductors were said to have contacted his family next morning and demanded a ransom of N100 million. Okeke was however freed unharmed three days later after an undisclosed amount was reportedly paid to secure his release.
The ugly incident has left the Amaokpala community enraged and questioning Governor Soludo’s silence on the deteriorating security situation.
According to them, the governor, as chief security officer of the state is responsible for ensuring the safety of all residents.
The community, which holds the Okeke’s family in high regard, is demanding immediate government action to restore security and prevent further similar incidents.
They maintained that effective governance and a focus on long-term solutions will significantly reduce criminal activities and foster peace across the state.
“We call on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to take immediate and decisive action to address the security challenges threatening lives and property in the region,” they said.
On his part, Okeke, while expressing his trauma over the ordeal, attributed high rate of insecurity in Anambra and Nigeria to widespread unemployment among young people and lack of social security.
The visibly shaken victim called for urgent investment in industries and job creation to address these root causes of crime.
