Residents of Enugu-Ezike, located in the Igbo Eze North local government area of Enugu State, are on edge following the kidnapping of more than 35 individuals, including three Nigerian soldiers, by suspected herdsmen.
The abductions took place on Thursday, January 9, 2025, along the Enugu-Nsukka Road.
According to a report by SaharaReporters, three buses were ambushed by the attackers, initially kidnapping four Nigerian Army personnel.
However, one of the soldiers, identified as PTE Usendu E. managed to escape, while three others were among those taken, alongside civilian passengers.
An eyewitness, who spoke to the online newspaper, recounted the harrowing experience of the attack. The kidnappers, numbering about 17, rounded up the passengers and marched them into a nearby forest after operating for about an hour.
“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.
The witness further explained that the assailants attacked three 18-seater buses, forcibly abducting at least 35 people. During the abduction, one of the victims managed to escape and later revealed to the authorities that he was a soldier.
“He said he and three other soldiers were traveling from Akwa Ibom to Kaduna State in one of the commercial vehicles,” the eyewitness added.
According to the local hunter, who encountered the kidnappers in the bush, one of the victims, exhausted from walking, was shot dead after pleading for rest.
“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 the victims complaining that he couldn’t continue walking as he was tired but guess what? He was shot dead,” he said.
After hours of searching, military personnel and the local hunters located the body of the victim, which was subsequently transported to a morgue.
On Sunday morning, residents of the area noticed a helicopter hovering above, causing further concern, though there were no confirmed efforts to rescue the victims at that time.
“I believe the herders and the victims are not still in the bush,” the witness remarked.
A military signal obtained by SaharaReporters confirmed the abduction of the soldiers. The report indicated that soldiers from the 87 Regular Recruits Intake (87RRI) were among those kidnapped.
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