Motorcycle snatchers return with full force.
3 min read
Indications that emerged early in the month of March clearly showed that motorcycle snatchers are back with full force with their nefarious activities and robbery expeditions. The areas that have been feeling the heat of the robberies are Njaba and Isu LGA as well as Mbaitoli LGA. In February 2024, an okada rider from Amurie had his motorcycle snatched at gunpoint on a particular Afor day in Umuezeala Uba. “Motorcycle boys” who got hint of the ugly incident gave the robbers a deadly chase but so sad they were not lucky enough to apprehend them.
Still in Uba, a young musician from Umuezikeukwu known as Chisom also became a victim of motorcycle snatching at gunpoint in the Umuduru axis of Ekwe in Isu LGA. According to the young musician, the armed robbery attach took place around 8 pm while he was riding home from a show where he and other musicians had performed. The bad boys double-crossed him, forced him to a stop and pointed a gun at him. They immediately ordered him to alight from the bike. He did. The robbers shot in the air and zoomed off with his motorcycle. Chisom told Umuaka Times that he had never had such an experience before in his life where someone pointed a gun at him. He disclosed that he almost fainted when he had the gunshot, thinking that they had shot him.
A popular okada rider from Obinwanne who was taking a passenger to Ukwu Orji in Ezioha area of Mbaitoli LGA was also confronted by a group of motorcycle snatchers. They pointed a gun at him and dispossessed him of his motorcycle.
Just last week alone, two motorcycles were snatched at different gun points between the hours of 9 and 10 pm in Amurie Omanze in Isu LGA.
The sad news is not only for motorcycle owners alone, even POS operators in Umuaka and her environs have also had their own different shares of the robbery attacks. About two weeks ago, an Uba Umuaka based POS operator also suffered the same fate when some bad boys came one early morning at his POS stand and showed him an AK47 and a pistol. They ordered him to cooperate with them and eventually dispossessed him of a large sum of money. While narrating the incident to Umuaka Times, the victim confirmed that story and disclosed to Umuaka Times reporters that he could have attacked the boys if they were only two in number but so bad, they were 4 in number and they came in two different motorcycles.
The stories can go on and on but the truth remains that the bad boys are back in town. Although there has been no incident or report where victims were inflicted with bodily harms but as it stands presently, it may be a question of time if proper care is not taken.
A top community stakeholder from Uba who did not want his name mentioned for security reasons, last week had a chat with Umuaka Times reporters about the ugly developments. He appealed to all the communities both in Umuaka and Amurie etc to endeavor to install CCTV cameras at strategic places. Another who also spoke with Umuaka Times appealed to motorcycle owners, especially “motorcycle boys” to stop their late night activities and retire home early enough. Other communities and villages where such incidents took place but never reported were also told to fortify their security outfits.
In order to check the criminal activities of motorcycle snatching, all hands must be on deck in order to successfully halt the return of bad boys in Umuaka. Individuals have also been told to report any suspicious movement of any kind to the relevant authorities. Security agencies are not left out. They have also been informed to start daily patrols and roadblocks at strategic places in their different communities. For now, Umuaka Times can reliably disclose that it is only the Umuezikoha Uba security outfit that engages in roadblocks and daily patrols.
