Enugu Communities Pay Ransom To Free kidnapped Residents

Residents of three communities in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State have reportedly paid N2 million to secure the release of five kidnapped victims who were abducted from their homes last week by suspected herdsmen.

The victims, drawn from Ogbele Ohulor in Obollo Afor, Amogbele in Ezimo, and Imilike communities, were freed after days in captivity. The kidnappers had initially demanded N20 million from the families before agreeing to a reduced amount.

The abducted individuals, identified as Chizoba Ugwu, Festus Ezeme, and Chimezie Ezeme among others, were taken to two separate camps located in the forests of Amogbele Ezimo and Imilike Etiti. Upon regaining freedom, they recounted being tied, beaten, and left under harsh weather conditions, surviving only on biscuits and soft drinks provided by their captors.

Some victims alleged that the kidnappers received support from local informants familiar with the terrain. They said the abductors, numbering about eight, were armed Fulani herdsmen who did not hide their identities.

The communities have been under frequent attacks in recent months, with one person killed in Ezimo last week and a police officer shot dead in a separate incident last month. The situation has forced many residents to flee their homes out of fear.

Community leaders accused the police divisions in Obollo-Afor and Orba of neglect, claiming that security operatives failed to act despite several reports of kidnapping and killings. They demanded the removal of the Divisional Police Officer and the Area Commander for allegedly ignoring distress calls and refusing to pursue the kidnappers.

A father of one of the abducted victims criticised the lack of response from security agencies, comparing it with states where police and military officers actively lead rescue operations. He claimed that the police only visited the scene once to retrieve a bullet-riddled car belonging to a priest, without entering the bush to confront the kidnappers.

The Udenu axis of the Nsukka–Obollo–Ikem–Eha-Amufu highway has now become deserted after 6 p.m., as motorists avoid travelling through the area due to the rising wave of kidnappings.

As of press time, the Enugu State Police Command had not issued any official statement on the latest abductions or the ransom payment.