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Residents and travelers along the Enugu-Ugwuogo Nike-Ekwegbe-Opi-Nsukka road are raising disturbing questions over the seeming inability of security forces to curb rampant kidnappings on the 43-kilometer stretch of road despite hosting over 21 military and police checkpoints.
The road, which connects Enugu to Nsukka, has become a hotspot for abductions, with armed gangs striking almost daily. Eyewitnesses and victims find it hard to believe that kidnappers operate so brazenly without insider collaboration or complicit security cover.
“How do armed men freely abduct people on a road with a checkpoint every two kilometers? Either security agents are turning a blind eye, or they’re part of the problem”, said Romson Abia, a frequent traveler.
Many residents accuse security operatives of prioritizing extortion over protection.
“They stop young people with nice cars and commercial drivers for bribes, but kidnappers move freely. It doesn’t add up”, lamented Onu Thankgod, who said his cousin and his wife were abducted on the road last December.
Some believe officers may be tipping off criminals.
“If federal forces can’t secure this road, the state should replace them with local vigilantes”, Thankgod added.
The Enugu State government faces mounting pressure to probe possible complicity and re-evaluate security strategies. Residents demand transparency, with some suggesting covert surveillance to expose any collusion between kidnappers and security personnel.
“We need answers. Are these checkpoints for safety or just a cover for something darker?”, asked Mr. Dubem, a motorist.
As abductions continue unchecked, public trust in security forces erodes—with many now looking to local vigilantes for solution.
Editor’s note: This photo is for illustration
