Quick-Acting Nigerian Police Rescue 13 Passengers, 3 Missing After Kidnapping In Enugu
By Ebere Inyama
(Imo State) The plague of kidnapping-for-ransom that has crippled Nigeria’s North Central States is now looming on Southeast highways, motorists tell TruthNigeria.
The Enugu – Abakiliki express road is gradually becoming a “haven for kidnappers,” said commercial driver Fidelis Onyekwuru to TruthNigeria.
“Almost every week, we hear stories of travellers being kidnapped along Enugu – Abakiliki express road.
“I run a commercial service with my vehicle, and I carry passengers from Owerri to Abakiliki every week, so I can tell you that the situation is gradually getting worse,” according to Onyekwuru.
“Cases of kidnapping along Enugu Abakiliki express road have increased since January 2024. It is possible that after the demolition of Lokpanta Cattle market in Abia State last year, some of the kidnappers who operated around that area have relocated to the forests surrounding Ohaukwu local government, which is just a few kilometers from the Enugu – Abakikili highway,” Onyekwuru said. His worries are borne out by recent attacks:
· In April 2024, gunmen attacked a police checkpoint along the Enugu – Abakaliki highway, killed a policeman and kidnapped another after setting the police patrol van on fire.
· Again, in May 2024, a staff member of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (AE-FUNIA) was abducted by suspected herdsmen on the Idodo axis of the ever-busy Enugu-Abakaliki but later regained her freedom after three days in captivity.
· Earlier in March 2024, two officials of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), in Ebonyi, were abducted by gunmen at the Amechi-Idodo axis along the Abakaliki-Enugu federal highway after they concluded their duties at the corps’ Nkalagu office, and they were returning to Enugu.
Police Correct the Record of Recent Media Reports
The Enugu State command is scrambling to tamp down the uptick of kidnapping. The Police spokesman for Enugu State Command said that its operatives responded to a distress call on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, rescuing 13 passengers kidnapped at the Amechi – Idodo axis of the Enugu-Abakaliki federal highway. Three others are still held by the kidnappers, he said.
The victims, reportedly students from colleges in Ebonyi State, were travelling in a commercial bus from Awka in Anambra State to Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital in the southern part of Nigeria.
Contrary to reports published online by some media platforms, the police on July 16 rescued 13 occupants of the commercial bus while 3 others are still missing, according to Police Public Relations Officer Daniel Ndukwe, on July 19, 2024.
“The Enugu State Police Command wishes to categorically state that the report alleging that eleven (11) people were kidnapped at the Amechi-Idodo area of the Enugu/Abakaliki highway is false, mischievous, and aimed at creating panic and to mislead unsuspecting members of the public,” the statement began.
“Contrary to the misleading report, a Joint Security Operatives, upon receipt of a distress call on the incident, moved to the Enugu/Ebonyi States border point along the Enugu/Abakaliki Expressway, on the said date and time. Thence, they rescued thirteen (13) occupants of a Nissan commercial bus. However, three (3) others, who scampered into nearby bushes upon the attack, are yet-to-be located,” according to the statement.
Kidnapping Attack within One Km of a Road Secured by 7 security Checkpoints
A resident of Amechi, in Ohaukwu Local Government Area (County) of Ebonyi state who identified himself as ‘Maduabuchi’ told TruthNigeria that the kidnappers, suspected to be herdsmen succeeded in their mission despite the presence of multiple checkpoints along the 1-km road (Amechi -Idodo Axis in Nkanu East Local Government Area (County) of Enugu State. The term “herdsmen” in Nigeria usually denotes a member of the Fulani ethnicity, a tribe claiming 9 million members in Nigeria.
“This is not the first time such a thing is happening around here,” said Maduabuchi.
“The attackers had set a road-block on the highway, making it easy for them to intercept the Nissan commercial bus conveying the students and other passengers,” he went on to say.
“I am not aware if any of the victims of that incident was rescued by the police. What I do not understand is how the kidnappers succeeded in taking the travellers hostage despite the presence of four military and three police checkpoints along the 1-km road (Amechi -Idodo Axis) in Nkanu East Local Government Area (County) of Enugu State,” Maduabuchi said.
“These hoodlums take advantage of the proximity of Ebonyi State to Northcentral Nigeria and infiltrate our communities at will. They usually come through Agila Town, located in the Ado local government area (County) of Benue State in North-Central Nigeria and pass through the forests surrounding Nkalagu town in Ishielu LGA (County) of Ebonyi state before finding their way to Idodo axis of the Enugu-Abakaliki federal highway, where they often carry out the kidnappings,” he said.
Media Reports Contradict Police Statement
Last week some media platforms, including Champion, Daily Post and Vanguard reported that 11 travellers were abducted by gunmen at the Amechi-Idodo axis of the Enugu-Abakaliki federal highway. In addition, some papers reported that the kidnappers had contacted the family of one of the victims, demanding a ransom of N30 million ($18,000).
Ebere Inyama is an Imo State–based conflict reporter for TruthNigeria
