A wave of tension has engulfed a community in Enugu State following the abduction of at least eight travellers by unknown gunmen at Obioma community, situated along the Udi-Oji River road in Udi Local Government Area.
The kidnapping reportedly took place on Sunday, and as of Tuesday morning, the victims’ whereabouts remain unknown.
Community sources revealed that the incident came to light late Sunday evening when the vehicles the victims were using were found abandoned on the road, their doors left wide open, ignitions still on, and engines running.
“We are no longer safe travelling on the road within the state. They (criminals) have chased our people out of their farms and now they cannot move within their neighbourhood. We are in trouble and government appears overwhelmed with constantly maintaining silence in the face of these security challenges,” one source lamented.
“Abduction in Enugu State occurs on daily basis but you hardly hear it. The police hardly react to any inquiry unless they get clearance from the Government House.”
“People are being killed on daily basis in their farms by herdsmen and so many have been kidnapped with no hope of their returning back despite ransom payments” the source added.
A local security vigilante shared a video clip of the scene, showing some of the abandoned vehicles, including a Toyota Sienna with registration number Abuja RBC-96 HS and a Mercedes Jeep bearing registration Abuja RSH 40 BL.
The video was captioned “Urgent security issue at UDI axis. If you could identify the owners of these vehicles, kindly reach their family members.”
This recent kidnapping follows an operation by the Enugu State Police Command that successfully rescued 21 kidnapping victims across the state on May 24.
The Commissioner of Police, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, announced the rescue and said that one suspected kidnapper was neutralised during the operation.
“One of the operations was carried out on May 23, 2025, by operatives from Okpuje Division, working with Neighbourhood Watch, Forest Guards, and local hunters. Eight kidnapped victims were rescued unhurt after a gunfight with the suspects,” the Commissioner stated.
He further assured that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects and recover more items connected to the gang.
While search efforts continue for the kidnappers of the eight travellers abducted at Obioma community, the state police command has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.
Attempts to reach the Command’s spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, for comments on the abduction were unsuccessful, as he did not answer calls or respond to text messages.
