LAGOS MAY 21ST (URHOBOTODAY)-The fear of being kidnapped
or robbed in Warri, Warri-South Local Government Area, and the
neighbouring Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area, both twin cities
in the oil-rich Delta State, has become the beginning of
wisdom.
The nightmare has also spread to the adjoining Udu Local
Government Area, while nightlife is fast disappearing from the rich
oil cities as residents hurry away from the streets as early as 6
pm daily. Despite the ugly situation, however, youths still hang
out until 10 pm.
At the Ovie Palace Junction on the Warri -Sapele Road axis, some
operators of drinking bars, who spoke to Sunday Vanguard, said
though patronage had dropped, business was not so bad.
We still sell, our busiest time is Friday and Saturday nights. I
am aware the crime rate has gone up but it is not new. And it is
not only in Warri. So, people should not blow it over, a fish
vendor, Ovo, said.
Residents identified some of the black spots as Angle Park area,
off Airport Road, Refinery, Jakpa, Ekpan, Esisi roads, and Effurun
Roundabout.
From 7 pm, you have to be very vigilant when you are around
these areas; they rob victims in commercial tricycles (Keke). But
not all Keke operators are robbers, Timeyin, a resident of
Ugbuwangwe, said.
Sunday Vanguard gathered that, usually, the hoodlums target
phones and cash. They are after phones and cash. Some can be
violent if their victims are stubborn, Mary, another resident of
Jakpa Road area, said.
Locals disclosed that some of the hoodlums lurk around ATM
machines at night from 7 pm waiting for targets, particularly on
Airport Road.
Kidnapping for ransom has been a reoccurring scenario. Within a
space of 48 hours, they whisked away two priests, Rev Father
Chochos Kunav and Raphael Ogigba, and a human rights lawyer, Dr.
Akpor Mudiaga Odje, at different locations between Warri and
Agbara-Otor about two weeks ago. They have since been released by
their abductors.
Governor-elect and Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly,
Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, was lucky on the Warri-Sapele Road
when his convoy ran into some hoodlums at night a few months ago.
According to reports, gunfire from his security aides made the
hoodlums flee.
Locals said there was a surge in kidn...