Soldier abducted by Herdsmen on Enugu-Nsukka Road

Tensions are high in the Enugu-Ezike community, located in Igbo Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State, following the abduction of more than 35 passengers by suspected herdsmen.

The attack, which occurred on Thursday, January 9, 2025, unfolded on the busy Enugu-Nsukka road.

The assailants reportedly hijacked three commercial buses carrying passengers during the brazen operation.

Among the abductees were four Nigerian Army personnel. While one of them, Private Usendu Emediong, managed to escape, his colleagues Private Usoro Ezekiel Paul, Jeremiah Inimbom Thomas, and Victor Itiat Godwin remain in captivity, raising concerns over their safety.

Eyewitness accounts described how the heavily armed kidnappers, numbering around 17, blocked the road and brought traffic to a standstill. The assailants forced all passengers into the nearby bush, holding up commuters for nearly an hour.

A local resident, who lives near the scene of the incident, recounted the harrowing event: “The attackers were a group of 17 Fulani herdsmen. They ambushed three 18-seater buses and took over 35 people into the bush. It happened not far from my home.”

Further details emerged from local hunters who assisted in tracking the situation. They reported a grim development: one of the abductees was allegedly killed after collapsing from exhaustion during the forced march into the forest. The victim’s body has since been recovered and transferred to a morgue by military personnel.

One of the soldiers who escaped narrated that he and his colleagues were travelling from Akwa Ibom to Kaduna in one of the commercial buses before falling victim to the ambush.

The attack has left the Enugu-Ezike community in a state of fear and anxiety. Military efforts to locate the captives have intensified, with a helicopter deployed to search the surrounding areas. However, concerns are mounting that the kidnappers and their victims may have moved out of the immediate vicinity.

A military signal obtained from SaharaReporters confirmed the abduction. The report, issued by Major AE Edet, acknowledged the incident and emphasized the need for urgent rescue operations. Investigations are reportedly ongoing, with security forces strategizing to free the captives.

This incident adds to the growing insecurity in the region and underscores the need for stronger measures to protect travelers and residents along the Enugu-Nsukka road.