Following the numerous kidnapping and killing of motorists, especially Abia State University Uturu, ABSU staff and students along Okiwe -Ihube road, the university hosts community, Uturu in Abia state and their neighbouring Okigwe community early Thursday morning, embarked on massive protest against the inability of Imo State and Abia states and the federal government to stem the tide of kidnappings and killings in the area.
The Okigwe in Imo State and Uturu in Abia State have lost count of how many people have been killed or kidnapped in the area without any positive action by the governments to stem the tide, hence putting the lives of ABSU students and staff, as well as Okigwe and Uturu residents in danger.
On Monday and Tuesday, several people, including students and lecturers were kidnapped while some other motorists were killed by marauding gunmen suspected to be herdsmen.
The protesters numbering in thousands started from the Ukwunwangwu, near Marists Brothers (Catholic) Secondary School, Uturu by blocking the Uturu-Afikpo road, singing anti-government songs up to the Okigwe junction of the Umuahia-Enugu Express road to press home their demand that government should take action.
Sources said the Okigwe-Ihube-Uturu road of less than three kilometres, has about twelve checkpoints by the police, the prisons, and the army, and yet none of the kidnappers has been caught over the years they have been unleashing mayhem on the road users.
While protesting, the communities who carried cutlasses and logs were said to have dismantled all the checkpoints and sacked all the security men there.
They called on the Abia State Government to close down the cattle market at Umuchieze in Umunneochi LGA which they said they suspect as serving as a takeoff point for the herdsmen that brandish military assault rifles like the AK47.
According to sources, a top military commander and the Isuikwuato LGA chairman, Hon. Chima Agbaeze were said to have addressed the angry youths who, as at 2pm still blocked the road, thereby preventing vehicles from using it, assuring that they have heard their grievances.
Cheering news also came in that the seven students kidnapped last Monday have all been released, but it was not ascertained if any ransom were paid. However, the youths who combed Ihube forest was said to have seen a skull and many foot wears their.
Meanwhile, sources have it that by 2.30 pm, the military returned to their checkpoint at the University and started shooting sporadically into the air.
No casualties have been reported.
Similarly, ABSU management has immediately approved a mid-term semester break for its students.
In a press release by the school Registrar, Acho Elendu, the Vice Chancellor, Onyemachi Ogbulu said the break starts from Friday, 20th May.
All calls put across to both Imo and Abia PPROs for their reactions remained unanswered.
