Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has said that his administration has successfully dislodged kidnappers, armed robbers, and other criminal groups that previously operated from forests and several communities across the state.

Otti made the disclosure on Friday while delivering his third anniversary address at the Umuahia Township Stadium, noting that many communities were under the control of criminal gangs when he assumed office.

According to him, the armed groups had established camps inside forests, from where they launched attacks on residents, forcing many villagers to live in fear or abandon their homes entirely.

He said the situation has since been brought under control through coordinated efforts between the state government and security agencies, leading to the recovery of affected communities.

“Security was a major challenge in the state three years ago. Several communities were held hostage as kidnappers, armed robbers, and other criminal groups set up camps in the forests from where they launched sporadic attacks on innocent Abians,” he said.

Governor Otti commended security agency heads and traditional rulers for their roles in restoring peace and stability across the state. He also urged residents to continue supporting security operations by providing timely and useful information that could help sustain the fight against crime.

The governor further disclosed that in the early days of his administration, the state evacuated 2,997 truckloads of refuse from streets across Abia within a few weeks of taking office, describing it as a critical step in addressing environmental and public health challenges.

On workers’ welfare, Otti said civil servants and pensioners in the state now receive their salaries and pensions without delays or hardship, unlike in previous years when many were reportedly owed and distressed.

He thanked residents for their continued support and assured that public funds under his administration would be strictly managed and not wasted on unnecessary expenses.