Àbia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti has formally received the three biological siblings recently rescued from abduction.
The children, Gideon (8), Divine (6), and Israel (4), were kidnapped on May 10, 2024, while returning home from school in Amaoba-Ime Oboro, Ikwuano LGA.
Speaking during the event, Governor Otti, surrounded by the children’s grateful parents and well-wishers, expressed profound gratitude to God and commended all who contributed to the successful rescue.
He emphasized the importance of vigilance in child safety and security, urging parents to prioritize their children’s wellbeing.
“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, whether 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,” he said.
The Governor called on security operatives to ensure that all individuals involved in the abduction are prosecuted to deter future crimes.
He also pledged government support for the rescued children and advocated for a return to the community ethos of collective child upbringing.
Highlighting his administration’s commitment to security, Governor Otti noted that the government has established a robust security architecture in order to create a conducive environment that attracts investors and supports businesses to thrive.
Otti said: “One of the promises that we made to our people is that we must secure the State.
“Even if it was not our intention to secure the state, but because it is our intention to develop the state and grow our economy, none of those can happen without security.
“So when you see me working very hard, visiting security agencies and their heads, it is to sit down and be able to map out a security architecture that works for all of us”.
He said that the government had established a robust security architecture in order to create a conducive environment that attracts investors and supports businesses to thrive.
“I had told criminals, I have sent them notice that this place cannot contain themselves and us; one person must run away.
“Unfortunately I’m not the one that would run, because I have the mandate of the people and I have the mandate of God.
“So it’s the evil ones that would run away, even to start running before somebody starts pursuing them and that is what we are seeing.
“We are also creating a robust economy that will accommodate everyone that has a genuine intention and genuine job to do,” he said.
In a speech, the Transition Committee Chairman of Ikwuano LGA, Mr Osinachi Nwaka, said the rescue unfolded in three stages.
and pointed out that he personally led the first operation in Ekwulobia, Anambra State.
Nwaka described the rescue as a remarkable triumph and commended the unwavering commitment of the government and security agencies.
He also commended the Governor for restoring safety and security in Abia.
In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Comdr MacDonald Uba (Rtd), commended the Governor for his optimism which motivated everyone that participated in the rescue operation and described him as a father.
Also, the member representing Ikwuano State Constituency, Mr Boniface Isienyi, said the rescue operation was not an easy task but it took God’s grace to make a success.
Isienyi, revealed that he plans to introduce a bill requiring anyone who wishes to operate a motherless.
babies home to register with the Ministry of Women Affairs, to ensure their legal status.
