Onitsha South Landlords Alarmed Over Rising Kidnappings, Demand Urgent Security Overhaul

The Onitsha South Landlords Association Forum (OSLAF) has expressed grave concern over the surge in kidnappings and abductions in Anambra State, urging security agencies to urgently revamp the state’s security framework.

In a joint statement signed by Chairman, Chief Nzeako Obidigbo, and Secretary, Chief Kingsley Chukwuemeka, the group described the worsening security situation in Onitsha South—particularly the Fegge axis—as alarming. They called on the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, alongside the Onitsha South Local Government Chairman, Chief Emeka Orji, the Onitsha Police Area Commander, the Divisional Police Officer of Fegge, and the Department of State Services (DSS) to act without delay.

According to OSLAF, no fewer than three kidnapping incidents occurred within one week in Fegge:

• On August 11, armed men with AK-47 rifles abducted a man along Port Harcourt Road by Miss Elems, escaping with both him and his vehicle in a tricycle.
• On August 13, another victim, Stanley Nwatu, was seized at the same location and later released after paying over ₦2 million in ransom. His Toyota Corolla was also stolen.
• On August 15, a five-man gang in military camouflage snatched another Toyota Corolla from its owner at Obosi Street, Fegge.

In the most recent incident, kidnappers in a Sienna bus blocked a man along Port Harcourt Road near Uga Street, handcuffed him, and forced him into their vehicle before fleeing toward Upper Iweka.

The association accused the police of neglecting intelligence-driven operations, instead focusing on roadblocks “mainly to extort money from tricycle operators.”

As part of its proposals, OSLAF recommended the construction of gates at nine strategic entry and exit points in Fegge—including Niger, Uga, Premier, Port Harcourt Road, Upper Iweka, Ochanja, Emordi via Bida Road, Modebe via Bida, and Sokoto/Haruna—to curb the free movement of criminals.

“Fegge is a small but densely populated community with about 1.5 million residents. With proper security measures, violent crimes would become a thing of the past,” the forum noted.

They further revealed that in the last six weeks, over five kidnap cases had been recorded in Onitsha, with victims paying heavy ransoms while their stolen cars remain unrecovered.

Lamenting what it described as a “total collapse of security” in Fegge, OSLAF demanded a state of emergency on security in Onitsha and warned that residents may resort to protests if decisive measures are not taken to halt the wave of abductions.