Fear of the unknown has griped Delta state-owned Polytechnic in Ozoro community with respected to reported invasion by suspected kidnappers.
Although the school’s Governing Board chairman, Mr Funkekeme Solomon, however dismissed the apprehension thus: “our students are secured, no cause for alarm”, sources said the alleged invasion of suspected kidnappers may have heightened the fear of the students who last week protested against the state of insecurity in the school, and community.
Only same last week, three of the students escaped being kidnapped by the suspected kidnappers, who were said to have built a tent within the community’s bushpath.
One of the victims, an OND II student, Priscella Omorude, who spoke to DAILY POST in Asaba on Wednesday, said, “a friend, and course-mate introduced me to a young man who claimed to come from Abuja into Ozoro community for a business transaction. He drove us to Asaba, and on our way he started answering some funny calls, and before we got to Ogwashi-Uku community, his gang members on the telephone discussion, said he should drive into the bush. Immediately, I shouted for help, and when he noticed we were shouting, he stopped, and pushed us into the bush where good Samaritan came to our rescue.”
It was gathered that the kidnappers’ mode of operation was to hoodwink the school security personnel, especially the ones at the gate with gifts, and allegedly disguise to be parents; an unsuspecting ploy that had often helped them to beat the security personnel.
But the police spokesman in the state, DSP Andrew Aniamaka, who spoke to DAILY POST in Asaba, said, “We have received reports of over three students that have escaped being kidnapped by these suspected kidnappers. We are investigating the reports, we have arrested some impostors in the school in the recent times, but at present, no arrest has been made.”
Our informed sources said Ozoro community has been under siege from all manner of crimes, including kidnappings, said to be the current booming business in the area
Another victim, Mabel Oghenevo, told our correspondent: “I was going to Asaba last Monday, and while waiting for a vehicle, a 504 saloon came with two men, I entered. Before we got to Ogwashi-Uku, the driver drove into the bush, and I started shouting, praying to God. I don’t know how I escaped their den. I am an OND II student of mass communication”.
Speaking to DAILY POST on condition of anonymity, a security guard in the school, said, “Three of our students have reported their escape from the suspected kidnappers. We have been been told to beef up security, and what we do now is to stop and search. The students are the ones causing the trouble, they invite their boyfriends under the guise of their parents who then take them out to an unknown destination. We are investigating the reports, and we arrest the suspects.”
Recently, the Police commissioner in the state, Mustafa Muhammad told DAILY POST in Asaba, and in an interview, that ten kidnap suspects were arrested at different locations across the state, adding that six out of the ten claimed to have been operating in Ozoro community.
source: dailypost
