Gunmen Abduct Six Passengers, Including Driver, in Early-Morning Enugu Road Attack

Gunmen have kidnapped at least six passengers, including a driver, during an early-morning attack along the Nsukka–Adani Road in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday, December 26, 2025, when a fully loaded mini bus operated by the Enugu State Transport Company (ENTRACO) was intercepted near the Adani community, an area residents say is notorious for criminal activity. Sources said the attackers blocked the road, forced the vehicle to stop and began herding passengers into the surrounding bush.

During the attack, three passengers reportedly managed to escape, while six others were taken away by the assailants. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Ignatius Ewenike.

A community leader in Adani, who spoke anonymously, confirmed the abduction and attributed it to the dangers of early-morning travel on the route. He said the driver had been advised to delay the trip until local vigilantes resumed duty but ignored the warning. According to him, security patrols are usually handled by police officers at night and by vigilante groups during the day, leaving early-morning hours particularly vulnerable.

Residents said the gunmen emerged suddenly, intercepted the bus and carried out the operation swiftly. While some passengers fled into the bush and escaped, the remaining victims were overpowered and abducted.

As of the time of filing this report, there was no information indicating that the kidnappers had contacted the families of the victims to demand ransom.

The attack has heightened fears among residents and commuters who rely on the Nsukka–Adani axis daily. Community members are calling on security agencies to ensure a continuous and visible presence on the road at all times, warning that any security gap exposes travelers to serious risk.

Efforts to obtain an official response from the Enugu State Police Command were unsuccessful, as calls and messages sent to the command’s spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, were not returned.

The incident comes amid growing concern over kidnapping and other violent crimes in parts of Enugu State, despite repeated assurances by security agencies that measures are being intensified to protect residents and commuters. Earlier this month, Governor Peter Mbah unveiled security drones and operational vehicles to strengthen crime-fighting efforts across the state, noting that more resources were still needed to effectively overwhelm criminal elements.