“22 year-old abduction in Asaba raises transport safety alarm”
Human rights activist Harrison Gwamnishu has warned of a disturbing pattern after a 22-year-old woman was allegedly abducted when she boarded a keke napep in Asaba, the capital of Delta State. Gwamnishu raised the alarm through his social media network, drawing attention to what he described as the growing risks for commuters in the state capital.
According to Gwamnishu’s post, the young woman boarded the three-wheel public transport vehicle (keke napep) and was subsequently abducted by unknown assailants. The activist said that the incident underlines an urgent need for heightened vigilance among motorists, passengers and security agencies alike. He emphasised that when vulnerable people take small daily journeys, they may not anticipate the threat of abduction, and that this particular case must serve as a wake-up call.
Gwamnishu further argued that the issue is not just about one isolated kidnapping but about the broader failure of security architecture to protect ordinary citizens who undertake routine transport. He criticised the local vigilance networks and roadside checkpoints for being largely invisible or ineffective in the face of rising threats. He appealed to the state government and the police command in Delta State to step up patrols, strengthen intelligence sharing and ensure swift response when a person boards a keke napep and disappears.
He also urged members of the public especially young women to adopt extra caution when using informal transport at night or at less-monitored locations. Gwamnishu noted that families and communities must demand better from operators of keke napep services, insisting that the vehicles be registered, their drivers identified and that passengers travel on known safe routes.
No official police statement confirming the incident or its details was available at the time of his post. The Delta State Police Command has not yet publicly addressed the claim. Gwamnishu’s call to action highlights not only the human cost of such abductions but also the waste in security resources when reaction is delayed or ineffective.
