Abia steps up hunt for kidnapped students, seeks cooperation from nearby states

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By Steve Oko

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Abia State Government has intensified efforts to rescue two school pupils allegedly abducted by a tricycle operator in Umuosu Nsulu, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area, saying it has expanded its security network beyond the state’s borders in the search for the children.

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The Special Adviser to Governor Alex Otti on Security, retired Navy Commander McDonald Ubah, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Otti at the Government House, Umuahia.

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Ubah described the incident as a suspected case of child trafficking and assured residents that the government was leaving no stone unturned to secure the safe return of the pupils.

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“We are doing everything possible to rescue the children. We have spread our contacts across the security network in neighbouring states because we suspect this is a case of child trafficking,” he said.

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He urged parents and guardians to be more vigilant over the movements and whereabouts of their children, warning that negligence could expose minors to criminal elements.

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The security adviser stressed that the government remained committed to protecting lives and property and would continue collaborating with security agencies until the children were safely reunited with their families.

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Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, said the state government had provided relief materials to residents affected by the recent oil pipeline explosion in Owaza community to cushion the impact of the disaster.

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Responding to questions from journalists, Kanu disclosed that the Commissioners for Petroleum and Mineral Resources and Environment had visited the explosion and oil spill sites to carry out on-the-spot assessments.

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According to him, the government is determined to prevent a recurrence of such incidents in Abia’s oil-producing communities.

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“The state government has already sent the Commissioners for Petroleum and Mineral Resources and Environment to inspect the affected sites, and we will ensure that such explosions do not happen again in our oil-producing communities,” Kanu said.

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He also announced that the Executive Council approved the award of contracts for the construction and rehabilitation of several roads across different parts of the state as part of the government’s ongoing infrastructure renewal programme.

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