Hoodlums take over Onitsha Pedestrian Bridges (Exclusive by www.odogwublog.com)

 www.odogwublog.com reports that residents in Onitsha and Environs who are users of the newly constructed pedestrian bridges in Onitsha have raised alarm of some security challenges they are exposed to on these bridges.

The bridges connects the four lane roads of the Enugu-Onitsha express road  and the users are claiming they have posed a challenge as they have turned to residents for hoodlums, beggars and small scale business dealers.

 The exposure they said have contributed to the incessant extortion of money, valuables and harassment inflicted on the users of these bridges especially in the dark evenings or night hours.

 The consistent clustering of beggars on these bridges is becoming a trend, as some users complained of poor access ways caused by the outnumbered population of beggars on these bridges.

Odogwublog.com observations proved that some of these beggars have children who were dangerously exposed for kidnapping, trafficking and littering of the bridges with excretes and refuse.

The attention of the government and the management bodies are being drawn to curtail their excesses and proffer possible solutions to these challenges.

Speaking with www.odogwublog.com, a small scale business owner who fries pop corn at the basement of the MCC bridge and identified himself as Emeka, recounted that he has witnessed several incidence of such nature, but cannot render any help to the victims.

In his words: “Just about last three months and the previous week, a lady and a man with his family were rubbed of their valuables on this bridge respectively, we climbed to rescue them when we heard a shout, but we couldn't because they were fast enough to have made away with all they had".

He also said that most of these victims are late night travelers who for one reason or the other alight at night from the public transports.

On the strategic measures to be taken by the concerned authorities to curb these menace , Miracle Ezenwaka, a user of the bridge and also a resident at Onitsha advised that security check points or police should be placed on such Locations at night to curb the activities of these road side hoodlums.
More so, to provide bypasses or alternative linkages to be used at nights and more provisions of street lights on these pedestrian bridges will reduce the sufferings.

Commissioner for Ministry of Social Welfare, Children and Women Affairs, Dr Victoria Chikwelu has ordered beggars and urchins out of the state streets and pedestrian bridges. She disclosed this in a statement banning people from begging with children in any disguise. 

Odogwu Emeka and Anudu Chukwuemeka
Onitsha