BENIN – WEALTHY politicians and businessmen in Benin City, the Edo State capital, have started fleeing the city for fear of being abducted by kidnappers.
Their fears heightened after two prominent businessmen in the city, Chief Dan Odiete, an Estate Valuer, and Chief Omoruyi Oloton, popularly known as Uyi Technical, were kidnapped last week by unknown gunmen dressed in police uniforms. They are yet to regain their freedom.
It was observed that the seeming failure of the police in the state to protect the citizens had forced majority of the wealthy politicians and businessmen in the city to seek the assistance of youths for protection.
But majority of those who may not want to engage the services of the youths or could not afford same, have fled the state for Abuja and Lagos. One of them, who craved anonymity, told Vanguard: “It is better to stay away because when you look at the mode of the kidnap operations now, it is more sophisticated.
“Are you not aware that those who kidnapped Dan Odiete were dressed in police uniform and they also wore bullet proof? You don’t even know who to trust. So it is not out of place to say people have fled. No body knows who is next and that is why one has to play safe first. You have to help yourself before God will help you.”
Vanguard learnt that the families of Odiete and Oloton are worried because they have not been contacted by the kidnappers of their sons. Efforts made to get the reaction of the Police Command in the state proved abortive as they declined to comment on any issue that had to do with kidnapping.
No comments:
Post a Comment