Ogoni communities in Rivers State are grappling with a spate of child disappearances, with nine children reported missing in the past three weeks, sparking widespread panic. Simultaneously, a prominent community leader and another individual were tragically killed by suspected kidnappers in the Neke Odenigbo-Nike community of Isi-Uzo Local Council, Enugu State, stirring additional fear and distress.
An anonymous source from the Ogoni region reported that five children disappeared from the Bera community, while two others went missing in Nweola, and another two in Mogho, all within the Gokana Local Council. The source urged parents to maintain vigilance over their children given the alarming trend.
The President of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), Fegalo Nsuke, confirmed the incidents and suggested a possible link to ritual activities. Nsuke disclosed that MOSOP is initiating a community sensitisation process to curb the trend and is liaising with traditional rulers to address the situation. Nsuke emphasized the importance of education and vigilance in combating the issue.
However, the state Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Grace Iringe Koko, stated that only one missing child case was confirmed by the District Police Officer in the area.
In a related incident, suspected kidnappers in Enugu attacked travelers along the Ugwogo-Neke-Ikem road. The attackers reportedly killed two people, including Chief Cyril Mbah of the Neke Odenigbo-Nike community, before abducting an unspecified number of travelers. The State Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, has yet to confirm the incident.
SOURCE: The Guardian
IMAGE: Vanguard
