Armed men abduct travelers in Abia
Gunmen suspected of being kidnappers abducted travelers in Lokpanta, a community in Umunneochi Local Government Area in Abia State, southeastern Nigeria.
The incident happened around 5:30 p.m. Sunday.
PREMIUM TIMES has learned that the victims — who were traveling in a Toyota Corolla car —– were attacked by gunmen operating on two motorcycles.
A witness, Emeka Nnuta, told PREMIUM TIMES that the gunmen crossed the victims' car with the motorcycles and forced them into a nearby bush.
“They were all forced to flee into the bush. People said that was the style used by gunmen to abduct their victims in the area,” he said.
Mr. Nnuta, who was traveling to Enugu state, said the attack happened near a military checkpoint in the area, but some soldiers on duty were unable to rescue the victims.
“After the gunmen forced people into the bush, the soldiers just came to the entrance of the bush, looked around and continued to control the traffic,” Ms. .Nnuta.
Another witness, who asked not to be named, told this newspaper that the victims were on their way to Enugu State when the incident occurred.
She said the victims' vehicle plunged into a nearby bush as the driver tried to pull away at full speed to avoid the gunmen.
"I don't know exactly how many people were in the vehicle, but they forced them all into the bush," she said.
“The four doors of the vehicle were all open, which means that there were at least four people inside the vehicle. The armed men took the people into the bush with their two motorbikes,” a- she added.
When contacted, Abia State Police Spokesman Geoffrey Ogbonna said he was unaware of the incident.
Increase in kidnappingsKidnappings for ransom have increased in Abia State in recent times.
The latest incident occurred about a month after gunmen abducted a journalist in Umuahia, the state capital.
The journalist was released about five days later, after a ransom of 10 million naira was allegedly paid to the gunmen.
Last month, Uwadinachi Iweha, a physician and provost of Gregory University College of Medicine, Umuahia campus, was also abducted.
He was taken by car as he was leaving his residence at Umuajameze Ezeleke Umuopara in the Umuahia South Council area of the state.
Mr. Iweha has not yet been released, more than a month after his abduction.
In May, Samuel Kanu-Uche, the prelate of the Methodist Church in Nigeria, was kidnapped alongside two other priests, as they were returning from a program in the Umunneochi local government area of the state.
The clerics were released about two days later, with 100 million naira reportedly paid to the kidnappers.
Support the integrity and credibility journalism of PREMIUM TIMES Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can guarantee the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy and a transparent government. For free and continued access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask that you consider providing modest support to this noble endeavour. By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you help sustain relevant journalism and keep it free and accessible to everyone.Donate
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Gunmen suspected of being kidnappers abducted travelers in Lokpanta, a community in Umunneochi Local Government Area in Abia State, southeastern Nigeria.
The incident happened around 5:30 p.m. Sunday.
PREMIUM TIMES has learned that the victims — who were traveling in a Toyota Corolla car —– were attacked by gunmen operating on two motorcycles.
A witness, Emeka Nnuta, told PREMIUM TIMES that the gunmen crossed the victims' car with the motorcycles and forced them into a nearby bush.
“They were all forced to flee into the bush. People said that was the style used by gunmen to abduct their victims in the area,” he said.
Mr. Nnuta, who was traveling to Enugu state, said the attack happened near a military checkpoint in the area, but some soldiers on duty were unable to rescue the victims.
“After the gunmen forced people into the bush, the soldiers just came to the entrance of the bush, looked around and continued to control the traffic,” Ms. .Nnuta.
Another witness, who asked not to be named, told this newspaper that the victims were on their way to Enugu State when the incident occurred.
She said the victims' vehicle plunged into a nearby bush as the driver tried to pull away at full speed to avoid the gunmen.
"I don't know exactly how many people were in the vehicle, but they forced them all into the bush," she said.
“The four doors of the vehicle were all open, which means that there were at least four people inside the vehicle. The armed men took the people into the bush with their two motorbikes,” a- she added.
When contacted, Abia State Police Spokesman Geoffrey Ogbonna said he was unaware of the incident.
Increase in kidnappingsKidnappings for ransom have increased in Abia State in recent times.
The latest incident occurred about a month after gunmen abducted a journalist in Umuahia, the state capital.
The journalist was released about five days later, after a ransom of 10 million naira was allegedly paid to the gunmen.
Last month, Uwadinachi Iweha, a physician and provost of Gregory University College of Medicine, Umuahia campus, was also abducted.
He was taken by car as he was leaving his residence at Umuajameze Ezeleke Umuopara in the Umuahia South Council area of the state.
Mr. Iweha has not yet been released, more than a month after his abduction.
In May, Samuel Kanu-Uche, the prelate of the Methodist Church in Nigeria, was kidnapped alongside two other priests, as they were returning from a program in the Umunneochi local government area of the state.
The clerics were released about two days later, with 100 million naira reportedly paid to the kidnappers.
Support the integrity and credibility journalism of PREMIUM TIMES Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can guarantee the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy and a transparent government. For free and continued access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask that you consider providing modest support to this noble endeavour. By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you help sustain relevant journalism and keep it free and accessible to everyone.Donate
[embedded content]TEXT ANNOUNCEMENT: Call Willie - +2348098788999
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