Kidnappers have seized 10 women including four children in Isua, Join Karama community in Engenni, Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The women were said to have gone to their farms to harvest their crops to avoid losing them to the looming heavy rainfall and floods.
A local in the LGA, who simply gave his name as Ezuwa, said the abductors came from a nearby Oshobele community, after crossing the river.
He said the development had left villagers and residents frightened, adding that the kidnap was one out of the many security facing n the community.
According to Ezuwa, “The people have raised concerns to the local government chairman and the police division in Akinima, but nothing has been done so far.”
He said the latest incident was capable of igniting a communal crisis, “because it is now seen as an Ekpeye and Engenni issue.”
Ezuwa revealed that the kidnappers are demanding N450,000 from the community which they termed a security vote and was paid by the community last Sunday.
He said the absence of policemen in the community gave the miscreants the audacity to operate, adding that many persons have fled the community.
Ezuwa said, “The few ones at home were asked to pay a form of living allowance, N450,000 or they would kill everybody in the community.
“Out of fear, they paid the money. They then brought new guidelines for each household to pay N1,500 every week which will be remitted to the criminals. And because of fear nobody can even go outside. We can’t really say where they hail from, but they came through Oshobele, kidnapped these people at Isua and crossed back to Oshobele, which is their hideout.”
The spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said “Efforts are on to ensure the release of the women and the children, and as you know the command is not sleeping.
“We are after the kidnappers. As we speak the Commissioner of Police has deployed the tactical team to ensure they are arrested and made to face the law for their actions.”
