- Hoodlums overrun Nsukka, kill, maim residents
- Two persons killed on Sunday at Ozzi Edem, Nsukka by suspected kidanppers
- Community leaders, youths keep mum as the ugly trend continues in the university town
This is not the best of times for the residents of University town in Nsukka and even its environs in Enugu state as hoodlums have literally invaded the town, killing abducting and maiming innocent citizens.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that for the past one month, residents have been living like rats in the midst of cats due to incessant and seemingly uncontrollable incidents of abduction in the town.
On Sunday, two persons whose names are yet to be ascertained by our reporter at the press time were killed by alleged kidnappers at Ozzi Edem, a neigbouring community in the town.
An eye witness told WITHIN NIGERIA that “these two guys were brutally killed at about 9pm on Sunday by suspected kidnappers.”
Another resident who spoke to our reporter under anonymity said that “
All the people living around that area are currently sleeping in the bush since Sunday night.”
Explaining further, the source said that “they came to kidnap one rich man in that village on Sunday night. The village youth alerted vigilante around 8pm in the night.
“The vigilantes came and stayed for few hours after they left without knowing the kidnappers were hiding in the bush.
“Immediately the vigilantes left the compound of the man they came to kidnap because the man was not around only the man’s neighbor was around.
“Because they have missed their target, they opened fire and shot two to death instantly and started shooting sporadically and many others sustained injuries and currently hospitalized.
“As I speak with you, Nsukka town has been captured by real kidnappers and they are operating freely every night especially from early 7pm in the night.”
Lamenting the ugly situation, our source alleged that “nobody is doing anything or saying anything about it. The Politicians from Enugu North zone don’t feel for anybody. The state government feels like anything happening in Nsukka zone doesn’t concern them.
“The local government chairman is busy dissolving market leaders, revoking people’s properties, going to kick out football tournament at Ugwuoye on that particular Sunday oblivious of the fact that kidnappers have taken over his local government. His brother is busy arresting innocent people that look like a kidnapper and the real kidnapers are operating freely.”
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that incidents of kidnapping and maiming of residents have been on the increase in the university town lately.
Few weeks ago, a popular entrepreneur simply known as Okwuego was allegedly kidnapped by the hoodlums. He was allegedly abducted few metres away from his house.
After about two hours of his abduction, they demanded an undisclosed ransom amount which he paid and was freed.
It was gathered that alleged abductors are using or have been using the same pattern ambushing and abducting their victims in the university town, an incident that has happened to at least four others persons in the last three weeks.
Findings by our reporter showed that the flash points of the ugly happenings are Onuiyi Junction, behind Ziks flat, Tectonics road Umeano Junction axis, all in Nsukka local government area.
However, all efforts to get the reaction of the Enugu state police command on the incident proved abortive as the Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe could not pick his calls.