The state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Anthony Agbazuere, told the News Agency of Nigeria that the government “has shown the commitment to fight the menace of crime head-on by not only pursuing kidnappers, but also their sponsors and collaborators.” He said that the onslaught led to the dethronement of two traditional rulers and the suspension of five other traditional rulers.

“This also led to the removal from office and arraignment of a serving local government transition chairman from Ukwa West,” the commissioner said. He added that the state government was pursing the arraignment of all those who had been fingered at one time or the other in the crime.