Abia State Governor Alex Otti has urged parents to prioritize the safety and well-being of their children, emphasizing that their parental responsibility to their children is the most important thing they can do.
He made these remarks while welcoming Gideon, 8, Divine, 6, and Israel, 4, who were kidnapped on their way home from school on May 10, 2024, but were later rescued.
Otti, who received the children at his residence in Umuehim, Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area, expressed gratitude to God and everyone involved in the children’s release.
He also emphasized the importance of parents being vigilant and ensuring the security of their children.
He stated, “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.”
Governor Otti urged security personnel involved in the rescue operation to thoroughly investigate and prosecute all those responsible for the abduction, serving as a warning to others.
He promised that the government would provide necessary support to the rescued children and encouraged communities to adopt a collective responsibility for all children’s well-being. Otti reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to ensuring the security of Abia State and promoting economic development, emphasizing that security is a prerequisite for achieving these goals.
“One of the promises that we made to our people was that we must secure the state because it is our intention to develop the state and grow our economy.
“So, when you see me working very hard, visiting security agencies and their heads, it is to sit down and map out a security architecture that works for all of us,” Otti noted.
The governor reaffirmed that Abia State is not a haven for criminal activity, and that his administration has established a solid security framework to safeguard residents and their assets.
He also highlighted the government’s efforts to foster an inclusive economy that welcomes legitimate businesses and promotes economic growth for all.
He restated, “I had told criminals, I have sent them notice that this place can’t contain them and us; one must run away. Fortunately, 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 who would run away, and they’ve already started running.”
Comrade Osinachi Nwaka, Mayor of Ikwuano Local Government Area, described the rescue of the children in three stages, with him leading the initial operation in Ekwulobia, Anambra State.
He hailed the rescue as a significant achievement, praising Governor Otti’s unwavering commitment to restoring safety and security in Abia. The Mayor also commended the collaborative efforts of various security agencies, including the State Homeland Security.
Navy Comr. MacDonald Uba (retd.), Special Adviser to the governor on Security Matters, credited the governor’s optimism for motivating the rescue team and described him as a caring father figure. Earlier, while presenting the rescued children to the governor, their parents, community leaders, and Hon.
Boniface Isienyi acknowledged the challenging rescue operation, attributing its success to divine grace. Isienyi announced plans to propose a bill requiring motherless babies’ homes to register with the state Ministry of Women Affairs to legitimize their operations.
