There is palpable tension in Enugu State following the reported kidnapping of at least eight travellers by yet-to-be-identified gunmen at Obioma community along the Udi-Oji River road in Udi Local Government Area.
The incident, the media gathered, occurred on Sunday, and as of Tuesday morning, the whereabouts of the victims were still unknown.
According to community sources, the kidnapping was discovered late Sunday evening when the vehicles the victims were travelling in were found abandoned along the road with their doors wide open, ignitions on, and engines still running.
“We are no longer safe travelling on the road within the state. They (criminals) have chased our people out of their farms and now they cannot move within their neighbourhood. We are in trouble and government appears overwhelmed with constantly maintaining silence in the face of these security challenges,” said one of the sources.
“Abduction in Enugu State occurs on daily basis but you hardly hear it. The police hardly react to any inquiry unless they get clearance from the Government House. People are being killed on daily basis in their farms by herdsmen and so many have been kidnapped with no hope of their returning back despite ransom payments.”
A video clip of the scene, made available to the media by a local security vigilante, showed some of the vehicles, including a Toyota Sienna with registration number Abuja RBC-96 HS and a Mercedes Jeep with registration number Abuja RSH 40 BL.
The video clip was titled: “Urgent security issue at UDI axis. If you could identify the owners of these vehicles, kindly reach their family members.”
This incident comes on the heels of a recent operation by the Enugu State Police Command, which rescued 21 kidnapped victims across the state on May 24.
The Commissioner of Police, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, had announced the rescue, stating that one suspected kidnapper was neutralised during the operation.
According to him, one of the operations was carried out on May 23, 2025, by operatives from Okpuje Division, working with Neighbourhood Watch, Forest Guards, and local hunters. “Eight kidnapped victims were rescued unhurt after a gunfight with the suspects.”
He had promised that the Command was working to apprehend the fleeing suspects and recover more exhibits linked to the gang.
Meanwhile, while efforts are also ongoing to locate the kidnappers of the eight travellers abducted at Obioma community, the state police command has yet to make official statement.
The media’ efforts to speak with the Command’s spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, on the recent abduction were unsuccessful as he did not take his calls or respond to a text message seeking his comment.
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