Suspected kidnappers take over Nsukka highway, cripple movements

Suspected kidnappers on Thursday allegedly laid siege on the highway in Ugwuogo Nike-Opi-Nsukka in Enugu East and Igbo-Etiti Local Government Areas of Enugu State

This is as the security situation around the area continue to deteriorate and defy every solution.

The kidnappers reportedly started shooting sporadically into the air in an attempt to abduct road users.

According to Vanguard, the suspected kidnappers allegedly blocked the highway for over two hours during their operation at the Ekwegbe axis of the road, the same spot where the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, students and another unspecified number of road users were equally allegedly abducted on Sunday.

At the time of filing this report, the number of victims has not been ascertained as the police in the state has not issued any statement.

However, an eyewitness, Ezeugwu Ndubuisi, in a telephone interview said “I was on my way to Nsukka this early morning hoping to meet up with an appointment before 9 O’clock. On reaching the scene, we were flagged down and stopped from running into the attack.”

“This happened exactly after Ugwuogo Nike, around Nike Uno, close to where they have a new police barrack.”

“We spent almost half an hour, and were able to get the Commissioner of Police on the phone before we began to notice the free movement of vehicles.”

Ezeugwu further said he could not ascertain if some people were kidnapped or killed because he never stopped to ask questions.

A commercial bus driver who pleaded for anonymity also said “We have been here since 7:15 am. This road has become something else. They operate from Ekwuege forest.”

According to a passenger, “There is no vehicle moving to and fro since morning. There have been movements of police and soldiers towards the scene, but we don’t know the extent they have gone,” he explained.

It’s gathered that the suspected kidnappers were already reaching out to the families of Sunday abductees to demand for ransom with an unverified report claiming that they were demanding N300 million to free UNN students in their custody.