The people of Nsukka town and its environs in Enugu State have been living in extreme fear over reported increasing rate of killings and abductions by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers.
The men of the underworld were said to have killed no fewer than two persons, injured and abducted about six others in the last two weeks.
One of their recent deadly operations happened at Amaudo village of Ozzi Edem in Nsukka Local Government Area of the state as some suspected kidnappers reportedly shot dead two men and injured others after a failed attempted abduction of a rich man in the community.
It was gathered that the gang had visited the village to kidnap a wealthy man but some youths alerted a vigilante group that stormed the area penultimate Sunday, stayed for a few hours before leaving.
Not long after the vigilantes left the community the gunmen came out of the bush they were hiding and marched into their target’s residence. However, their target had taken a flight. Disappointed by this, the gunmen reportedly opened fire on his neighbours, killing two and injuring others.
Witnesses recounted that some villagers ran into the bush as gunmen shot sporadically.
A resident of the state, Chijinkem Ugwuanyi, explained that those who sustained gunshot injuries have been hospitalised.
“The kidnappers came to kidnap one rich man in that village on Sunday night. The village youth alerted the vigilante around 8pm in the night. The vigilantes came and stayed for a 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 and found out the man was not around, they only met the man’s neighbour. Because they missed their target, they opened fire and shot two to death instantly. They started shooting sporadically and many others sustained injuries and are currently hospitalised,” he said.
He called on the government and other stakeholders to intervene saying a series of kidnapping incidents have happened and there are no efforts by security agencies to quell the menace.
Ugwuanyi claimed that the kidnappers also operate in day time unchecked and that they abduct their targets and release them in hours after collecting their ransom.
“One popular Okwuego was kidnapped a few weeks ago, the kidnapping happened in the street of Nsukka. The kidnappers collected ransom in the street and freed him within hours in the same street.
“They have used the same pattern to kidnap at least four others within Nsukka town in the last three to four weeks.
They also have target areas like Onuiyi junction/Behind, Ziks flat, Tectonics road, Umeano Junction axis and these places have become danger spots at the moment,” he stated.
Efforts to contact the Police Public Relations Officer in Enugu, Daniel Ndukwe, were not successful as at the time of filing this report.
