Enugu State was marred by violence on Saturday evening as gunmen suspected to be kidnappers wreaked havoc in separate locations. One life was tragically lost, and several individuals were abducted along the Enugu-Ugwogo-Opi-Nsukka road.
The victim of the fatal attack has been identified as Sunday Nwa Ugwuja, a middle-aged man from Apapam village in Ezikolo Abbi community. Sunday was on his way to Nsukka when assailants ambushed his vehicle along the Edem-Nrobo-Ezikolo-Abbi Road in Uzo-Uwani Council. Despite the assailants’ repeated gunfire, the vehicle managed to escape, but Sunday succumbed to his injuries and was rushed to Bishop Shanaham Hospital in Nsukka, where he was declared dead due to severe blood loss.
Meanwhile, the notorious Enugu-Ugwogo-Opi-Nsukka road witnessed another harrowing incident as a gang of kidnappers blocked the route, abducting around eight motorists, including students. Among the victims is Obiora Omeye, an undergraduate from Eha-Alumona community in Nsukka Local Government Area. They were en route to Nsukka from Enugu when they fell victim to this brazen act.
The Enugu-Ugwogo-Opi-Nsukka road has become a nightmare for commuters since 2021, with kidnappings becoming an alarming daily occurrence. Despite having more than 14 security checkpoints, including military posts, the road remains perilous.
In response to these incidents, the Enugu State Police Command, through its spokesperson DSP Daniel Ndukwe, denied knowledge of the situation. Ndukwe stated that there was no such report known or reported to the Command at the moment. However, he urged anyone with information about the incidents’ exact location, time, and details to come forward for necessary police action. The Command remains committed to eliminating violent criminals in the state.
