*Urges Residents To Trust, Report Criminal Cases To Police
THE Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olufemi Abaniwonda, has confirmed that the kidnapped immediate past commissioner for Technical Education in the state and former House of Representatives member, Joan Onyemaechi, who was taken from her church in Asaba, the state capital, was released in Bayelsa State, following intense pressure on her abductors.
Abaniwonda told The Guardian in Asaba that the former director general of the Capital City Territory was freed 10 days after she was abducted around 4pm from her King Jesus & I Church, of Delta Broadcasting Service (DBS) road in the state capital.
He explained: “She was released by her abductors because there was too much pressure from the security personnel,, and aside the pressure, the identities of Ada Anioma’s abductors and their location were also known. Based on that, they didn’t have any option than to hands up and release their victim.”
While assuring that Delta State was safe, despite the unfortunate incident, as a number of the kidnappers had been arrested and the Police are on the trail of others currently on the run.
Abaniwonda said a number of arrests had been made in connection with the incident, but added: “I will not give you figure not to jeopardise the ongoing investigations, but we have a number of people in our custody.
“At the appropriate time, we will give you the number, their identities and the level of their involvement.”
Asked how the kidnappers were able to escape with their captives after he incident, the Police chief said: “We had wrong information and our assessment was that they will follow the usual way to the bush, but they carried out their operations in a hurry, then left through the waterside and burned their vehicle.
“When you have these kinds of breaches, what is important is the way you respond, the way you are able to bring the perpetrators to book.
“Yes, it was well planned. They had a get away vehicle waiting, a get away boat waiting and they knew the location of the security and did everything to avoid the security points within the state.
“We have beefed up security, locked down Asaba capital territory to ensure that such doesn’t happen again. We are on the top of the situation, so long as there is breach of the law and you are able to arrest, prosecute and bring them to justice, it means others will learn a lesson. But, of course, a criminal is a criminal.”
Abaniwonda said he was not aware whether or not the family paid any ransom to secure her release, but added: “For ransom, we (Police) don’t encourage payment. So, none of the security personnel is aware if any ransom was paid, but we are only working with other security agencies to apprehend and prosecute them.”
In a related development, Abaniwonda has urged residents of the state to trust and report all criminal cases, including kidnapping, to the Police for prompt attention, saying reporting such cases to the Police is one thing, but another thing is to have trust and confidence that such cases would be professionally treated to produce positive results.
He recalled how a kidnap incident that happened six months ago was cracked, following the trust and cooperation the victim reposed in the Police.
The commissioner, in press release signed on his behalf by the Command’s spokesman, Mr. Bright Edafe (SP), on Wednesday, August 14, recalled cases of kidnapping and armed robbery in the state that were resolved, sometimes months after, because the victims and indeed, the public trusted the Police and made available all useful information, which eventually led to the perpetrators’ arrests.
Abaniwonda warned criminal activities would not be allowed to thrive in the state, as adequate deployments has been made to ensure criminals are identified, arrested and brought to book.
Meanwhile, there was an exchange between a lady, Precious Oruche, and Edafe on X, on Wednesday, August 14, following her complain that “there was kidnapping going on in Asaba, the state capital.
In his response, Edafe explained: “Deployment has been made round the metro to see that it is nipped in the bud. Most importantly, victims should report their experience to the Police, keeping quiet and crying on social media will not help anybody.
“… I have absolutely nothing against anybody, but what I will continue to reiterate is that X, Instagram and other social media apps cannot take the place of a Police station.
“You keep saying there is kidnapping every day in Asaba, the same Asaba that I live with you without escort. The thing is, it’s either it’s not happening, as much as they are saying it or they are not reporting to the Police.
“Before you come and shout on social media, advise victims to report to the Police. Human rights activists and social media influencers have assumed the role of a Police station, and it’s not the best.”
And she responded: “Trying to taunt the people crying out is shameful and wrong. I don’t know if it’s empathy that’s missing or something else, but you quickly need to fix it and do your damn job well…”
