The family of a man whose corpse was kidnapped alongside his relatives while being conveyed from Lagos to Nsukka has accused both the Enugu State Government and the Police of abandoning them during their predicament.
The family said they were bewildered by the actions of the Nigerian Government, including the federal, state and local governments and the security agencies.
This statement followed the final release of the three family members accompanying the corpse by the kidnappers.
OsunDailyNG reported that the remains of the late Mr Ugwuanyi Israel from Ameze Owerre, Umabor community in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, was kidnapped around Umuoka in Udi Local Government area of the State while being conveyed from Lagos to his home town.
The kidnappers also took along some family members during the hijack.
The elder brother to the deceased, Mr Collins Ugwuanyi, in a statement made available to OsunDailyNG, is now accusing the Nigeria Police and Enugu State government of being insensitive to their plight while they remained in the kidnappers’ den.
“We are still bewildered by the actions of the Nigerian Government – the Federal, State and Local Government; the security personnel, police, Nigerian army, forest guard, etc.
“We were abandoned by the government whose primary responsibility is the protection of lives and property. We were almost abandoned even by our own people. God have mercy,” he said.
Ugwuanyi said Governor Peter Mbah and the chairman of Nsukka Local government, Walter Ozioko, did not in any way contact the family up till now regarding the incident even when the news of the kidnapping was all over the media.
“They cannot claim that they were not aware of the incident because the news was everywhere. Are these people, not human beings from their state?
“The commissioner of police is ordering the arrest of a native doctor for carrying out an act of cruelty on animals at his shrine but he could not issue a similar order to arrest these criminals holding my people hostage. We are seriously in trouble,” he added.
Ugwuanyi also said he was greatly surprised that the Police did not make any single effort to effect the release of his kidnapped relatives.
“The divisional police station where we reported the incident could not swing into action to release my relations under the kidnapper’s net.
“When I contacted him, he said, “I and my men wanted to enter the bush but the cost of fuel is too high.. Look at the type of mess we are into”.
While expressing gratitude to Nigerians who assisted his family through prayers and other support, he said, “God through His divine intervention brought back the kidnapped victims home safely.”
