Staff and students of the Abia State University, Uturu, and members of the neighbouring Okigwe community, on Thursday, protested against the inability of the Imo and Abia states governments and the Federal Government to stem the tide of kidnappings and killings in the area.
On Monday and Tuesday, several people, including students and lecturers of ABSU, were kidnapped, while some other motorists were killed by marauding gunmen suspected to be herdsmen.
The protesters started from Ukwunwangwu, near Marists Brothers (Catholic) Secondary School, Uturu, by blocking the Uturu-Afikpo Road. They sang anti-government songs up to Okigwe Junction of the Umuahia-Enugu Road to demand government action against the scourge.
Sources said the Okigwe-Ihube-Uturu Road of less than three kilometres had about 12 checkpoints mounted by the police, prison officials, and the army.
They said, however, none of the kidnappers had been caught over the years. The protesters, while armed with cutlasses and logs, reportedly dismantled the checkpoints and sacked the security men there.
They called on the Abia State Government to close down the cattle market at Umuchieze in Umunneochi LGA, which they said served as a takeoff point for the herdsmen brandishing military assault rifles.
A top military commander and the Isuikwuato LGA Chairman, Chima Agbaeze, were said to have addressed the protesters, who, as of 2pm, still blocked the road, thereby preventing vehicular movement.
Cheering news also came in that the seven students kidnapped last Monday were released. Although, it was not confirmed if ransom was paid.