…… Herdsmen Invasion, Never Again – King
The Eze Igbu Upata III, HRM Eze Dr.Felix Enene Otuwarikpo, the Igbu Upata Kingdom Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs and the good people of Igbu Upata Kingdom say that the girl, Miss Edith Lawrence, who was abducted on 27th May, 2018 by suspected herdsmen from the Akpaja farmland, Ihuaba community have been found.
King Otuwarikpo in a statement issued on his behalf and sent to Theportcitynews.com by his Special Assistant on media, Haires Oyagiri, stated that the people are pleased to see that the Kidnap victim back in the safe environment of her family, though now in the hospital where she is currently receiving treatment on account of physical and psychological torture from her abductors.
Igbu Upata Kingdom monarch who expressed gratitude over her release which he said was perfected by God through the relentless efforts of the Ahoada Police Division and local volunteers, noted that the police were effective in her search which paid off at about 8:00 pm on Wednesday, 20th June 2018.
King Otuwarikpo maintained that the Palace is working closely with relevant bodies to provide the necessary support to the victim and her family as the girl may have been exposed to physical and psychological violence over the period of her abduction.
“She needs the support of her family, friends and well-wishers and community to feel safe again.
” The Eze Igbu Upata Palace is also working with civil society organizations and other relevant government organs to ensure that she receives adequate attention from medical treatment to psychosocial support.
” We offer our prayers for her quick recovery and to her immediate family at this trying moment but most gratified that it ended that she is alive.
” As we await further confirmation of her health status, it is thoughtful to warn against any form of further attack on any son/daughter of Igbu Upata Kingdom; not even on any part of Igbu Upata Kingdom soil because, the people will not be breaking any law if self-defense becomes the last option when provoked.
“However, the Igbu Upata Kingdom, being an enclave with a rich vein of hospitality will always, as usual, welcome visitors who are ready to invest and live in harmony with the people. We renew our call for peaceful co-existence and respect to the traditional hospitality of the Igbu Upata people.
“Recall that Ihuaba, an Igbu Upata community was rudely attacked by men suspected to be herdsmen. While Edith Lawrence was abducted, one Chiemele Blessing and others escaped with fatal arrow wound. Farm crops worth thousands of naira were destroyed in the process by the rampaging herdsmen. But the Kingdom is comforted that justice will be done as the case is presently before the judiciary” the statement read.
