Abia Assembly Summons Security Chiefs as Kidnappings Spike in the State.

Lawmakers raise alarm over rising abductions, call for urgent action to protect residents

The Abia State House of Assembly has decided to call in the state's top security commanders for an emergency meeting to tackle the growing wave of kidnappings and other criminal activities plaguing parts of the state.

This decision came during Tuesday's plenary session after Deputy Speaker Augustine Okezie Mmeregini raised an urgent motion highlighting the recent abduction of two residents Mr. Dennis Okechi Izuchukwu and Mrs. Onyiyechi Ekechukwu who were snatched by gunmen in the Umuawa, Alaocha community, Ohuhu, Umuahia North Local Government Area.

Mmeregini didn't mince words, describing the situation as nothing short of an "insurgency" that demands immediate and decisive action. He pressed the Assembly to push both the Abia State Homeland Security Agency and other security forces in the state to intensify their efforts in protecting the lives and property of Abians.

The Deputy Speaker also made a case for grassroots involvement, urging the Assembly to direct mayors across all 17 local government areas to breathe new life into community vigilante groups. He stressed the importance of getting traditional rulers and Presidents General of various communities more actively involved in keeping watch over their localities.

Speaker Emmanuel Emeruwa, who presided over the session, agreed that the security concerns raised were extremely serious. The Assembly gave its full backing to the Deputy Speaker's proposals and confirmed they would be summoning security chiefs for a face to face discussion on the way forward.