{"id":2381,"date":"2019-02-04T09:02:27","date_gmt":"2019-02-04T09:02:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aptnewsghana.com\/?p=2381"},"modified":"2019-02-04T09:02:32","modified_gmt":"2019-02-04T09:02:32","slug":"bringbackourtaadigirls-taadi-holds-vigil-for-missing-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aptnewsghana.com\/index.php\/2019\/02\/04\/bringbackourtaadigirls-taadi-holds-vigil-for-missing-3\/","title":{"rendered":"#BringBackOurTaadiGirls: Taadi holds vigil for missing 3"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Residents\n of Sekondi-Takoradi in the Western Region and its environs on Sunday \nheld a grand vigil for the three missing young ladies that were reported\n kidnapped last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The mammoth vigil was also to highlight what they say is the wave of kidnappings that has hit the twin city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although\n police say only three ladies have been reported missing, residents say \nat least seven ladies, most of them teenagers, have gone missing since \nlast year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hundreds\n of residents thronged the dark streets, holding lighted objects such as\n candles and lamps and prayed sporadically to seek the face of God in \nthe impasse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Takoradi<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Organisers\n of the well-attended vigil, Skyy Media Group, hope to send a firm \nmessage to all residents they are stronger together and also to pile \npressure on security authorities to fast track efforts to unite \nPriscilla Mantebea Koranchie, 18; Priscilla Blessing Bentum, 21; and \nRuth Love Quayson 18, with their parents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\n unprecedented vigil started with a \u201cwalk of prayer\u201d, according to the \norganisers, through the principal streets of Takoradi, specifically the \nMarket Circle, after which they return to the starting point, the \nJubilee Park..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the park, pastors led rounds of prayers to seek for God\u2019s guidance for the three young ladies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\n well-coordinated vigil as supported by various churches and other \ngroups in the region who joined the event with their members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pastors,\n generally, prayed for the girls, their families and even the kidnappers\n — believed to be a Nigerian syndicate — asking God to strengthen the \ngirls and care for them wherever they may be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pressure<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The girls \u2013 from separate families \u2013 were taken from various locations in the town last year..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Priscilla \nBlessing Bentum was the first to be taken in August 2018.  The \nstudent left home for choir practice but never returned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her worried \nfather reported her disappearance to the police 24 hours later. It is \nnow known that she was abducted at Kansaworodo, a suburb of Takoradi, an\n oil-rich town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 18-year-old took a cab ride from her home in Diabene to the Butumagyedu Junction and never returned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Priscilla \nMantebea  Koranchie, 15, was last seen on December 21, 2018. She told \nher younger siblings she was taking a walk to a nearby town, Nkroful and\n since then no one has heard from her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunday\u2019s mammoth vigil adds to the mounting pressure<\/a> on the police and other security agencies to find the young ladies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Multimedia Group Ltd has launched the campaign #BringBackOurTaadiGirls <\/strong>to\n force police to prioritise the kidnapping cases with impactful, urgent \npolicing and investigation and return the young women who are daughters,\n sisters, friends and students with loved ones, dreams and futures to \ntheir families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Progress?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: The Gender Minister on last month visited the home of missing Priscilla Mantsebea Koranchie.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gender and Social Protection miniMinisternthia Morrison,\u00a0said she has been informed that the missing young ladies\u00a0are still alive<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her comments \ncame hours after the Director-General of the Criminal Investigation \nDepartment (CID), Deputy Commissioner of Police, Maame Tiwaa \nAddo-Danquah, disclosed, there is an imminent collaboration between \nGhanaian investigators and their counterparts from the United States of \nAmerica and the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Police say a key suspect in matter, a Nigerian by name Samuel Udoterg Wills, has started opening up after refusing to talk to investigators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: The key suspect is a 28-year old Nigerian. He broke cells but was later re-arrested after a fierce manhunt.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n