Abia State Governor Dr Alex Otti has called on communities go back to the positive culture of seeing all children as their own by ensuring their safety and encouraging sound moral upbringing.
Governor Otti threw the challenge at his residence in Nvosi in Isiala Ngwa South LGA on Saturday while formally receiving the three now rescued abducted children from the same parents in Amaoba-Ime Oboro, Ikwuano LGA, comprising, Gideon 8, Divine 6 and Israel 4 who were abducted while returning home from school on May 10, 2024.
While thanking God and all those who worked hard to ensure their release, the Governor expressed joy that the children have finally been reunited with their parents and used the forum to admonish parents to be more careful about the safety and security of their children.
“I will like to also admonish parents to be more careful because this was avoidable. First of all, you should not hand over your children to people you do not know, be they Keke or Okada riders. There is nothing you’re doing that is more important than looking after your children. That is my word to parents, grandparents and everybody who has something to do with one Abia child or another.
It is very very important that we take their security, comfort and safety very seriously. A lot of lessons have been learnt from this and I believe we shouldn’t let this kind of thing repeat itself,” the Governor advised.
He however implored security operatives who took part in the rescue operations to ensure that everyone involved in the abduction is prosecuted and brought to book to serve as deterrent to others.
The governor pledged that the government would support the rescued children in the best way that it deemed fit and recommended and reassured of his administration’s commitment to secure the State and develop the economy.
Governor Otti therefore warned criminals in the State that Abia is not safe for them as government has put in place a robust security architecture.
Narrating how the children were rescued, the Mayor of Ikwuano Comrade Osinachi Nwaka, said the rescue unfolded in three stages, pointing out that he personally led the first operation in Ekwulobia Anambra State.
While describing the rescue as a remarkable triumph, Osinachi Nwaka saluted the unwavering commitment of the Governor and security agencies and commended Governor Otti for restoring safety and security in Abia.
Earlier the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters Commander MacDonald Uba (Rtd) lauded the optimism of the Governor which gingered the Mayor and others who participated in the operation and described him as a father.
Lending his voice, the member representing Ikwuano State Constituency Honorable Boniface Isienyi said the rescue operation was not an easy task adding that it took God’s grace to make it possible.
He disclosed that he would be proposing a bill in the coming days that would make it mandatory that anyone who wants to run a motherless babies home should be registered with the State Ministry of Women Affairs to be make their existence legal.
