Angered by the growing incidence of kidnapping, cultism, robbery and all forms of crime and criminality in the clan, an interventionist body known as Ozuzu Agenda in collaboration with Ogbakor Ozuzu has taken bold steps to chase out criminals from the town and other adjoining communities by organizing the first security summit in Etche ethnic nationality.
Speaking as chairman of the event, the Vice Chancellor, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Prof. Ozo-Mekuri Ndimele said kidnapping and cultism have sent the clan several years backward, stressing that the trend, if left unchecked has the potential of destroying the communities in the clan in particular and Etche in general.
Outlining the side effects of this ugly monster in Ozuzu, the University don observed that, not less than eight cases of kidnapping have been recorded in various parts of the town, which according to him had impacted negatively on the lives of the victims. He described kidnapping as worse than armed robbery and commended the organizers of the programme for a job well done.
In his address, the coordinator of Ozuzu Agenda, Prof. Samuel Amaele noted that the entire Ozuzu town are under siege as kidnapping, cultism and other related crimes have become a daily occurrence, pointing out that women, children, elders are the most vulnerable groups. Prof. Amaele regretted that Ozuzu indigenes in Port Harcourt now find it difficult to visit home due to the fear of the unknown.
He noted that Ozuzu Agenda had before now consulted widely with the two traditional rulers and their Council of Chiefs, elders, stakeholders and the entire Ogabakor Ozuzu and was expressly granted permission to hold the summit for the security of lives and property of the community, stressing that not less than seven cases of kidnapping have been recorded in Ozuzu so far and called on security operatives and relevant stakeholders to join forces with the body to fight these deadly monsters so as to restore peace to the land.
Prof. Amaele who is also a senior lecturer at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education however used the forum to call on parents whose children and wards are still perpetrating violent crimes in the community to assist by reporting to the law-enforcement agents for necessary action. He also thanked Governor Wike for remembering to include Ozuzu in his developmental agenda by reconstructing the Chokocho Umuechem Ozuzu road and appealed to him to extend the road project to other areas in Ozuzu.
Presenting a paper on the summit, Director General, Neighbourhood Safety Corps, Dr. Uche Mike Chukwuma, represented by the director, public affairs of the agency, Charles Inkotariah said the core mandate of the agency is to control and reduce crime to the barest minimum, pointing out that when fully operational, rural communities such as Ozuzu in the state will experience peace once again.
