Aleke Aleke in Abuja
The Chairman of Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, Bar. Chijioke Ezugwu, has foiled a kidnapping ambush along a major road in the LGA.
The heavily armed kidnappers, who have been terrorizing Uzo-Uwani LGA and its environs in Enugu State, got more than they bargained for when they laid an ambush on the road, preparatory to attacking motorists who ply the area, which leads to Umulokpa, the headquarters of the agriculturally rich community, last week.
Unfortunately for them, the first vehicle they saw approaching their spot turned out to be the convoy of the local government boss, Bar. Chijioke Ezugwu, who was leaving the headquarters after a security meeting where measures to wipe out the criminals were discussed.
Reports said that as soon as his vehicle got to the spot where they had laid an ambush, the criminals, who were dressed like herdsmen and armed with AK-47 rifles, jumped into the road to stop the vehicle.
It was gathered that the LG boss, who was in charge of security in the area before he won the election, quickly jumped into action and confronted them.
He was reportedly able to dislodge the four marauders, who quickly ran into the thick bush. An eyewitness account said that as soon as the LG boss jumped out of his official car, together with his aides, the criminals released several bullets, but the council boss, who was also armed, replied with more intensive manoeuvring, which scared them, and they disappeared into the thick bush.
It was gathered that, together with his security aides, they pursued the criminals deep into the bush, after which they came back to the main road and continued with their trip. Sources said that, following this development, the chairman directed the newly constituted vigilante team and established farm protection squads to swing into action and comb all the bush areas with a view to rounding up the criminals.
Recall that the chairman had taken many other security measures, including the recruitment and restructuring of neighbourhood watch, enhancement of intelligence gathering, procurement of security equipment, strengthening collaboration with formal security agencies, community sensitization, and stakeholder engagement. Meanwhile, sources said that the chairman had since joined his vigilante group and other security outfits in the area to carry out both day and night patrols in all the volatile areas of the local government.
