The growing insecurity situation in Imo State seems to have taken a
dangerous turn in recent times with the sudden upsurge of child
kidnappings in different parts of the state.
Last week, Umuzike Autonomous Community in Orlu Local Government Area
of the State was thrown into another era of confusion as a
five-month-old baby girl was snatched from her mother at gun point in
front of their house by unknown gunmen.
This came few days after the mother of the former vice chancellor of
the Imo State University, Prof. Innocent Okonkwo, was kidnapped by
unknown gunmen.
The baby, identified as Chidiogo, is the daughter of Mr. Kingsley and
Mrs. Ugochi Igwegbe. The woman, 247ureports.com learnt, was returning
from a neighbourhood where she went to buy kerosene around 7.00pm
before the three baby snatchers accosted her and took her baby away.
The mother of the baby was said to have shouted to attract the
attention of the neighbours and held on to her baby, but the gun men
shot her two times on the laps.
It would be recalled that penultimate week, similar incident took
place at Durukwu Umuebele in Okporo also in Orlu LGA, where a little
baby was snatched from its father, Mr. Ebere Chikodi, who was equally
shot by the abductors before escaping with the baby.
While one of the victims’ mothers is still at the Imo State University
Teaching Hospital, Orlu, receiving treatment, there has been no trace
of the stolen babies.
This situation has sent fears down the spines of nursing mothers who
do not know when and who would be the next victim.
The incidence of child abduction is not new in the state. It would be
recalled that late last year, precisely in December, Ikechukwu, a
pupil of St. Patrick’s International Primary School, Umuezeala–Owerre
in Ehime Mbano LGA of the state was kidnapped on his way to school. He
was later found in Port Hacourt.
Also, Chinedu, a three year-old pupil of the Daughters of Mary Mother
of Mercy(DMMM) was abducted at his school gate.
