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Nigerian President Orders Police to Rescue Kidnapped Children

   Chinedu Offor | Washington DC 29 September 2010

   Â

   Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan has sent a special police unit to
   find  and rescue dozens of children kidnapped in the southeastern city
   of  Aba.  The  unit  has  also  been directed to arrest members of the
   unidentified gang who abducted the children.

   Meanwhile,  security  has  been  beefed  up and the city is on edge as
   people from neighboring areas move into the town for safety.

   There is an uneasy calm as residents wait for authorities to give them
   news  of the children, says Emma Ndukuba, who is covering the story as
   a reporter with the News Agency of Nigeria.

   âAba is relatively calm and people are apprehensive over the situation
   of  things  here.  Since the children were abductedâ¦people have been
   very apprehensive, unlike the past two months, when there was relative
   peace.â

   All  the  commercial  banks in Aba, most of the schools and some shops
   have closed down indefinitely, says Ndukuba, adding that police are on
   the  streets  but  their  presence has not translated into feelings of
   safety for the residents.

   âThey  cannot  solve the problem because they donât have communication
   equipment  to reach other officers if a crime occurs. Â I was in touch
   with a senior police officer, who said residents are reluctant to give
   information to the police for fear they will be attacked by the gang.â

   A special police force ordered into the city by President Jonathan has
   yet to make its presence felt in the city, according to Ndukuba.

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