Kidnapping, armed robbery resume in southern states

Business Day

13 June 2011

Kidnapping, armed robbery resume in southern states

Every hand was probably needed to be on deck to prosecute the much-hyped 2011 general elections in April, and several of the hands belonged to kidnappers, armed robbers and tricksters, among others.

Now that the elections are over, most of the merchants of violence, probably out of idleness, may have returned to their old trades. From Port Harcourt to Imo, from Delta to Anambra, from Enugu to Abia, Akwa Ibom to Bayelsa, the story is the same - it is the tale of a trail of bloodshed from men of the underworld in a renewed frenzy.

Now, the guns are booming once more and corpses are being picked up in city centres and communities in the south-south and east, BusinessDay’s special investigations have revealed.

Sad signals to this effect began in Aba, Abia State, just as the post-election lull set in, when about four persons were kidnapped in different parts of the city, triggering renewed fresh panic after the days of mayhem occasioned by Osisikankwo and his henchmen.

The Army had to move in quickly to restore confidence, though through more of statements than actions. The only visible sign of action, perhaps, were the Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) which were once again seen rolling out of Bende zone into the Aba - Port Harcourt express way.