DDM – Fresh reports of another kidnapping incident along Ugwuogo Road on Tuesday evening have once again drawn attention to the worsening security situation on the strategic route.
For regular users of the road, such reports are no longer shocking, as incidents of abduction and violent crime have become disturbingly frequent.
Communities within the Nsukka zone appear to be bearing the brunt of these attacks, with residents increasingly exposed to danger while commuting or returning home.
When the state government announced the procurement of a surveillance drone to monitor the surrounding bushes, many citizens initially welcomed the move with optimism and appreciation.
The gesture was widely interpreted as a decisive intervention aimed at dismantling criminal hideouts and restoring confidence along the corridor.
Residents publicly commended the governor at the time, believing that a meaningful turning point in the fight against insecurity had finally arrived.
However, developments since then have raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of these measures on the ground.
Despite widespread publicity surrounding the drone deployment and security operations, tangible results have remained largely elusive.
The contrast between official narratives and the lived experiences of road users has become increasingly stark.
Social media has been flooded with videos showing vigilante groups parading sophisticated weapons and issuing bold assurances of readiness to confront criminals.
Yet, these displays have done little to deter criminal activities, as kidnappings and attacks continue to occur with alarming regularity.
Innocent citizens remain vulnerable, and fear has become a constant companion for those who depend on the road for daily movement.
Ugwuogo Road has, in practical terms, evolved into a safe haven for criminal elements, despite the presence of nearly a dozen security checkpoints along the route.
This paradox has prompted growing public frustration and calls for a reassessment of current security strategies.
Many observers are now asking critical questions about the operational depth of the security architecture surrounding the road.
Questions have been raised about the actual size of the surrounding bushes and whether they are truly beyond effective monitoring and control.
There are also concerns about the apparent failure to leverage local intelligence, which remains one of the most potent tools in combating insecurity.
Residents argue that nearby communities and villages possess valuable knowledge of the terrain and movement patterns that could significantly aid security operations.
Effective security, analysts note, cannot be achieved through technology and checkpoints alone.
It requires sustained collaboration with local populations, trust-building, and intelligence-driven interventions.
Across the Nsukka zone, fear has taken root among residents who now think twice before traveling.
Many people are reluctant to embark on journeys, return home late, or go about their normal routines.
This climate of fear is steadily eroding public confidence in the ability of authorities to guarantee safety.
It is also undermining social stability and economic activity in affected communities.
Concerned citizens insist that if the government is genuinely committed to ending the menace, criminal networks along the road can be dismantled within a relatively short time.
They argue that what is lacking is not announcements, media content, or symbolic gestures.
Rather, what is urgently required is decisive, intelligence-led action, backed by accountability and sustained enforcement.
The call from residents is clear and uncompromising.
They are demanding protection, not promises.
They are asking for safety, not spectacles.
Above all, they are insisting that human lives must take precedence over public relations narratives.