Fear has gripped residents of Enugu-Ezike in Igbo Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State following the abduction of more than 35 passengers by suspected herdsmen.
The incident happened on Thursday, January 9, 2025, along the Enugu-Nsukka Road.
Three buses were ambushed during the attack. Initially, four Nigerian Army personnel were taken, but one of them, PTE Usendu Emediong (24NA/87/7560), managed to escape.
The remaining soldiers — PTE Usoro Ezekiel Paul (24NA/87/6751), Jeremiah Inimbom Thomas (24NA/87/7937), and PTE Victor Itiat Godwin (24NA/87/8348) — were captured along with the other passengers.
An eyewitness reported that 17 kidnappers led the victims into the bush after a one-hour operation.
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“Just near where I’m staying in my hometown of Enugu-Ezike, a 17-member Fulani herdsmen gang carried out the kidnapping on a busy road linking the eastern and northern regions. The road conditions are poor,” the witness explained.
“They were successfully attacked three 18-seater buses and kidnapped at least 35 people from these buses forcefully. In the course of moving the victims into the bush, one of them managed to escape. It was when he came out that he narrated how they were kidnapped and we got to know he is a soldier.
“He said he and three others soldiers were going from Akwa Ibom to Kaduna State in one of the commercial vehicles.
“Yesterday, local hunters, about three of them from my village on their usual routine encountered the kidnappers in the bush but had to hide. They heard one of victims complaining that he couldn’t continue walking as he was tired but guess what? He was shot dead.
“Hours after, both the local hunters and the military operatives entered the bush and saw the dead body which was later taken to the morgue.
“This Sunday morning, a helicopter has been hovering around this town causing apprehension among villagers, though without any rigid invasion to rescue the victims. I believe the Fulani herders and the victims are not still in the bush.”
Meanwhile, a military signal obtained by SaharaReporters confirmed the abduction of the soldiers.
The signal said personnel of 87 Regular Recruits Intake (87RRI) were abducted along Enugu/Nsukka Road.
“TEXT: SPECIAL SITREP. NO0 AS AT 110900A JAN 25. KIDNAPPING AT ABOUT 101515A JAN 25 INFO RECEIVED FROM 24NA/87/7560 PTE USENDU EMEDIONG ETIM REVEALED THAT 3 X SLDRS OF 87RRI CMM 24NA/87/6751 PTE USORO EZEKIEL PAUL WITH PHONE NO 070****** CMM 24NA/87/7937 PTE JEREMIAH INIMBOM THOMAS WITH PHONE NO 080******* AND 24NA/87/8348 PTE ITIAT VICTOR GODWIN WITH PHONE NO 080****** WHILE RTN FROM PASS WERE KIDNAPPED ALONG ENUGU – NSUKKA RD AT ABOUT 091740A JAN 25 IN A COMMERCIAL VEH FROM AKWA IBOM TO KADUNA STATE. REQ YOU FWD INFO TO ASA FOR NEC ACTION. PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION IN PROGRESS. PSE ACK,” the signal released by Major AE Edet read.
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