A wave of apprehension has gripped Enugu-Ezike in Igbo Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State following the abduction of over 35 passengers, including three Nigerian Army personnel, by suspected herdsmen.
The incident occurred on Thursday, 9th January 2025, along the Enugu-Nsukka Road. Three buses were attacked, and while four Nigerian Army personnel were initially taken, one managed to escape.
The abducted soldiers are identified as PTE Usoro Ezekiel Paul (24NA/87/6751), Jeremiah Inimbom Thomas (24NA/87/7937), and PTE Victor Itiat Godwin (24NA/87/8348).
An eyewitness reported that a group of 17 heavily armed herdsmen carried out the attack. They forced all passengers from the buses into the nearby bush.
The eyewitness also recounted a distressing incident where a kidnapped passenger, unable to continue walking, was shot dead by the abductors.
The eyewitness said: “Not far from where I’m lodging in my hometown in Enugu-Ezike, a 17-member ragtag Fulani herdsmen kidnap gang operated for about 60 minutes on a busy road that links the eastern part to the northern part of the country. The road is bad,” he said.
“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.”
A military signal confirmed the abduction of the soldiers, stating that they were travelling from Akwa Ibom to Kaduna State when their vehicle was attacked.
A helicopter has been observed hovering around the town, indicating ongoing search and rescue efforts by security forces.
