The Commissioner of Police, Abia State, CP Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, has commended Governor Alex Otti for his unflinching support to security agencies in the fight against kidnapping witnessed in parts of the state.

The Commissioner of Police said this at the weekend when he led a team of “Operation Crush” men and some Abia State Government officials to two schools taken over by kidnappers in the Lekwesi community, Umunneochi LGA.

During the visit, a tunnel suspected used by kidnappers to transport victims into the bush was discovered.

He said the schools visited have been dilapidated for a long time, adding that reconstruction of the schools would make it difficult for criminals to make use of them as dens.

CP Onwuemelie further said that the entire area is vast and the culverts seen in the bushy areas could be used to hide victims.

“Because, if you are not aware that those culverts are there and you are passing by, you just pass on top. There is a possibility that any structure that provides cover can be used to hide kidnapped victims including the culverts but we must also tell you that in the past seven months, the challenge of kidnapping has been tackled very well in Abia State,” he said.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Commander Macdonald Uba (Rtd) who was part of the team, alleged that roads around the schools were not built by previous administrations, pointing out that kidnappers took advantage of the situation to use the places as their den.

He said the Abia State Government would do the road and reactivate the schools but urged the host villages to always provide timely information to the state government and security operatives.

Ferdinand Ekeoma, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, said information from security agencies revealed that the tunnel served as a place where victims of kidnappings were dropped off, after ransom payment.

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