By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Spiritual Director of Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry, Uke in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Rev Fr Emmanuel Obimma popularly known as Fr. Ebube Muonso, has decried the security situation in the state, describing Anambra as a state without security.

Obimma made the lamentation while presenting a young priest who was released from kidnappers? den to his congregation.

According to him, it took his personal effort and push to get the security to work towards the release of the priest, whose name was given as Rev Fr. Nonso, an abroad returnee after spending a week in the forest with kidnappers.

Narrating the story, the popular Catholic priest wondered why a state with a governor that earns security will allow his state to be run over with crime, noting that security in Anambra State has broken down irretrievably.

Information has it that Fr. Nonso was kidnapped on December 17, 2024 shortly after his return for the Christmas holiday from overseas where he was studying.

Obimma said: ?For a week, Father was in the hands of kidnappers. Government could not do anything, it got to a point where I had to use my arsenal to rescue him.

?I approached a state outside Anambra and begged them to use their tracker to find my brother priest. They tracked him and sent the full location to me. I sent it to security people and they asked me what I want them to do with the information. I told them to go after the kidnappers and rescue our priest, but they told me they usually don?t go into forest.

?I opted to lead the operation. I called the Chief Security of Adoration and told him to assemble his men, let those who have cutlass bring their cutlass and those who have guns should bring it. I will lead the operation. When they saw that I was serious, that was when police told me I should not worry that they can rescue him, but they lack logistics.

?I had to send N1million to them. This is a state where we have a governor who receives security vote, but it is individuals that are now funding security.

?I called former governor, Chief Willie Obiano and asked him where the trackers he bought during his tenure were, and he said they were all there. What it means is that we do not have security in this state. May God continue to protect his people.

?What was shocking was that for the one week the priest was in custody, his phone line remained open and the kidnappers never bothered to put it off or even dispose it, knowing that they could be tracked through it.

?They knew that there is no security in this state. That is why I said there is no security in Anambra State. Imagine using a tracker from another location to trace kidnappers, yet security refused to act until I opted to use my own security to rescue the victim, and later they accepted and I still paid them N1million for mobilisation. Only God will lead us.

?It was gathered that Fr. Nonso was rescued alongside a businessman who was abducted on the same date by the same gang, but in a different location.?