They have told us that Governor Theodore Ahamefule Orji has built a new
society of law and order. They sufficed that to say that Abia State is
standing tall, as a model state, in the federation, under him. These
statements are such that we have heard and continue to hear from the
governor’s horn blowers. (ThisDay: “Orji’s Model State of Law and Order”,
14 Apr 2013).
We are deafened with their noises of how the state has become a haven of
peace and tranquility, and that the people now open their doors and windows
wide and sleep with their two eyes closed. But that are falsities.
What Abia State has become under Gov. T.A. Orji is sad and qualifies to be
declared a Disaster Area, as hoodlums have taken over the whole of the
state, but especially Aba, the pummeled commercial hub of the state.
“In Abia State, crime has become the order of the day, with the alarming
and ever-increasing crime wave. For the innocent citizen, it is like a
cockroach wading through a congregation of roosters. Armed robbery,
kidnapping illicit drug dealing, child trafficking and now the fastest
growing crime in the state – baby factories – pose a serious threat to the
existence and image of the state, as well as the safety of its citizens.”
(Osun Defenders: “Criminals take over Abia State”. Sep 29 2013).
The reputable media outfit went further to say that criminals spring in
dozens in Abia and are fast spreading across all nooks and crannies of the
state like wildfire. A day hardly passes without the police or other
security agencies arresting or parading criminals and kidnappers.
“Since the exposure of baby factories and child trafficking in Abia State
some18 months ago, not less than 80 young girls have been paraded by the
police and all of them were arrested at local hospitals and maternity homes
built and managed by people who claim to belong to the Christian faith.
“In addition, most of these teenagers whose ages range between 13 and 20
years, claim to be students of either secondary schools or tertiary
institutions. What agitates the mind therefore is why these under-aged
ladies have decided to make money through such means, abandoning their
education.” (Osun Defenders: “Criminals take over Abia State”. Sep 29 2013).
The answer to why these young girls are abandoning their schooling may be
giving to the lackadaisical approach with which the government of Gov. Orji
has been handling the educational system in that state, without a day
passing and we do not hear that either the students school fees have been
increased, the tutors are not paid their salaries of many months, and so
on.
The crime level in Abia State saw to a man specialised in issuing fake
vehicle plate numbers. Charles Ubani was arrested for printing out fake
vehicle number plates bearing the same serial numbers to people. (Channels
Television; September 24, 2013).
The way education is handled in Abia State might not be unconnected with
the reason, at least 12 girls, including a 14-year-old JSS 2 student of a
secondary school at Aba, were reportedly picked up by the police at the
Isaac Okwuonu maternity home at Ogbor Hill Aba on Monday, September 23.
“19- year-old Precious Ogbonna who lives at 190 Cameroon Road; 20-year-old
Mary Dickson of 28 Akpa Road Ogbor Hill Aba; Happiness Chinyere, 19 years,
of Umuire Umuoba in Isiala Ngwa South; 20-year-old Goodluck Erondu of
Umuagu Umuoba Isiala Ngwa South; 19-year old Gift Lawrence of 15/17
Igwebuike Street, off Ohanko Road, Aba; 14-year-old Favour Kalu of No 28
Enugu Street/Obolies Road Aba, and Ann Okechukwu of Ohuru Isimiri in
Obingwa, were among the 12 pregnant girls arrested on Monday at the at the
maternity home.” (Osun Defenders: “Criminals take over Abia State”. Sep 29
2013).
Others were given as: “Rose Ubani of Avo Mgoko, Itu Ngwa in Obingwa LGA;
Uchechi Omwunali of Umuire Eziama Ntigha in Isiala Ngwa North LGA; Favour
David of Nkanu Amaodu Awkananaw, Enugu State; Chikodi Samuel of Akpaa
Mbator in Obingwa LGA, and Victor Okoro of Okobumo Essien Udim LGA, Akwa
Ibom State.”
Without sounding detractive, the Osun Defenders narrated that even the
Commissioner of Police, Abia Sate Command, Mr. Usman Tilli Ababakar,
confirmed this ugly state that Abia has become, when he told journalists
that the suspects were rounded up at Isaac Okwuonu’s Hospital and Maternity
home situated at No 127 Ikot Ekpene Road Ogbor Hill, Aba, between September
17 and 18. The media further frowned at how kidnapping has become another
shoddy aspect of Gov. Orji’s Abia State, where virtually everyone now lives
in fear in the state irrespective of social status.
“In Abia, kidnappers can take persons hostage for as low as the sum of N20,
000. Kidnapping in the state has assumed an alarming dimension which has
received widespread condemnations from well meaning people of Nigeria and
even the international community. The first reported case of kidnapping
took place on September 27, 2008, at Aba involving the kidnap of 15 school
children, who were later released, perhaps, after the payment of a ransom.
And ever since then, there have been cases of kidnapping involving women,
children, the wealthy and foreigners.” (Osun Defenders: “Criminals take
over Abia State”. Sep 29 2013).
It is no gainsaying that Gov. Orji’s Abia State has become a place of crime
and criminality in the recent times, making residents and investors to look
elsewhere. Another mayhem in the state is the aspect of dearth of motorable
roads, not even pedestrians are liable to use them. Dirt and filth are
other names for the state. Touts are known to be the logo of the state, as
they have taken over the activities of the state.
The state has broken down, yet, Gov. Orji and his horn blowers are telling
Nigerians other stories as they augur well with them, with irresponsibility
and insensitivity. In a report, it was “Criminal gangs are reportedly
recruiting unemployed youths who pay fees ranging from N40, 000 to get guns
to start their criminal activities.” People say that Aba has become
‘Aba(ndoned)’.
There is no need for anyone to direct his or her blame to anyone or group,
but Gov. Orji. He is the chief security officer of the failed state.
Excesses of kidnapping and rape of the government have also characterised
the activities of the government, making Abia State a no-go state; and the
crime activities have gone beyond the security apparatuses, and declaration
of Disaster Area will be suitable for the state.
