Widow, Son Kidnapped and Killed Despite Ransom Payment

A widow and her son who were abducted by gunmen in Imo State have been found dead, despite a ransom payment of N5 million to their captors. The victims, 42-year-old Agunanne and her 20-year-old son, Chimezie Charles Akamere, were laid to rest amid an outpouring of grief from family and friends.

The bodies of the victims were discovered near the Ohaji Egbema/Rivers State boundary, a location infamous for kidnappings allegedly linked to herdsmen. Farmers in the area stumbled upon the lifeless bodies during their work and immediately alerted the local vigilante group. The group later contacted the victims’ families to identify the remains, which had already begun to decompose.

The tragic incident has drawn attention to the growing insecurity in the South East region, which continues to be plagued by acts of violence. Ruth Agunanne was buried on January 10, 2024, in her father’s compound in Ugbele-Akah, Nkaba Local Government Area of Imo State, while her son was interred at his father’s residence in Ibeama Ekwe.