Unidentified gunmen struck on Tuesday evening, kidnapping five individuals along the bustling Mile 2 stretch of the Ishiagu-Okigwe expressway in Ebonyi State.
According to reports, the victims were traveling homeward from Enugu Airport in an airport taxi Siena space bus with Registration Number KWL 941 PD. They were abducted by the unknown assailants at the Mile 2 area in Ishiagu and subsequently taken into the nearby forest.
A community source, who requested anonymity, disclosed that the kidnap victims were identified as Ajah Chibuzo (aged 41), his spouse, their 12-year-old daughter, and the vehicle’s driver. The perpetrators also encountered a farmer on his land during the abduction, subsequently seizing him.
The source further noted that the vehicle transporting the initial four victims was abandoned at the scene of the incident but was later recovered by security operatives and taken to Ishiagu Police Station.
Over the past four months, more than 20 individuals have fallen victim to abductions in this area, with around four of the victims being fatally attacked by criminals.
Several months ago, the local women of the community organized a peaceful demonstration that escalated into violence. This protest was a response to the ongoing abduction of innocent residents by these criminals.
In response to the incident, Hon. Ike Cletus, the Special Assistant to the Governor of Ebonyi State on Internal Security for the Ivo local government area, confirmed the recent kidnapping. He expressed concern over the local government becoming a haven for kidnappers. This development has been attributed to the inactivity of the local vigilante group in the area.
Hon. Cletus voiced his worries about the lack of functionality within the local vigilante group despite the presence of military personnel along the expressway. He called for a comprehensive overhaul of the security framework within the local government area.
“It is unfortunate that Ivo Local Government has become a safe haven for kidnappers and other criminal elements. We have a non-functional vigilante group in the local government. You hardly see them anywhere in the local government, yet money is spent on them monthly without any fruitful result.
“The security architecture of the local government, especially that of the local vigilante group, must be overhauled and make it more efficient,” the governor’s security aide stated.
He emphasized that Governor Francis Nwifuru’s administration remains resolute in safeguarding the lives and assets of every citizen and resident in Ebonyi State. He also appealed for the backing of the local government council chairpersons, especially those overseeing the regions where kidnappers are operating with impunity.
