Eight individuals, including a priestess and four local farmers, have been reportedly abducted by suspected kidnappers at Ohebe Orba in the Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
It was gathered on Friday that the incident happened on Wednesday night, when the priestess, was reportedly on her way to a river for rituals with three other worshippers.
Meanwhile, the kidnappers have contacted the families of the affected with initially demanding a ransom of N50 million, but they later reduced it to N15million.
According to Senator Okey Ezea, representing Enugu North Senatorial District, “Kidnappers and Fulani herdsmen have taken over Enugu North Senatorial Zone including Nsukka”.
This recent abduction coincides with the release of 15 abductees at Ibagwa Agu farm settlement in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, who were freed on Thursday, April 17, 2025.
In a similar incident, gunmen suspected to be kidnappers abducted 13 persons, including Maurice Osmond, his son, and another child, in Ibagwa Agu community in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State on April 12, 2025.
The kidnappers demanded a ransom of N10million each for the release of the victims.
Chijinkem Ugwuanyi, an Enugu media personality, stated on Facebook, “These pictures here are some of the victims including Maurice Osmond who had come home with his son for the transition exam into St. John’s Secondary School, was kidnapped along the road to Agu Ibagwa-Ani while heading to see his in-laws”.
The spate of kidnappings has caused concern among residents, with many calling for increased security measures to prevent further incidents.
The Enugu State Police Command has been working to tackle kidnapping in the state, with recent operations resulting in the killing of suspected kidnappers and the rescue of victims.
Recall that on October 17, 2024, operatives raided a kidnappers’ hideout, killing two suspected kidnappers and rescuing one victim.
The Police were yet to react to the latest development.
