6 people have been reportedly kidnapped in Enugu community as unknown gunmen attack the area multiple times.
The people of Ikem community in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State sadly cries out for help over the rate of the insecurities in their land.
Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State have witnessed a series of attacks and killings by suspected Fulani Herdsmen who have turned the area into a death trap, making the villagers to migrate for safety, especially those from Eha-Amufu.
According to reports, the masked men have attacked the Ikem-Isioroto along Obollo Afor-Nkalagu road for three days, whisking many villagers away to an unknown destination.
On Monday 16th January, 2023, eight masked gunmen attacked five young men, including the Chairman of Federated Ikem Improvement Union Enugu branch, Mr Emeka Odoh (aka Asokwa), as they concluded a security meeting in the neighbourhood.
Asogwa why narrating his ordeal said he was home from Enugu to join other members of the security committee to look for solutions on how to strengthen the local security ahead of the general elections so as to ensure that people will exercise their franchise without the fear of the unknown.
“As we drove out of the meeting venue, we found four gunmen on the main road brandishing guns.
“I was driving and instinctively reversed the car and behold there was another set of four gunmen behind us.”
“The gunmen opened fire on us, shattering all the windscreens and the four tires, but I bravely drove through the hail of bullets with flat tires to safety.”
“One of us was badly hit by the bullets and was immediately rushed to Enugu where eight bullets were extracted from his body by surgeons. He is still recovering at the intensive care unit of the hospital,” he said.
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Angered by the brave escape of the men, the gunmen kidnapped two commercial motorcycle riders and escaped through a bush route towards the community boundary with Benue State.
As they withdrew, they robbed adjoining houses and stole food items and condiments.
The residents narrated that the gunmen returned on Tuesday and kidnapped one of the natives who just returned from Enugu and a National Youth Corps Member who is his tenant. The culprits are yet to make any ransom demand.
On Thursday, the gunmen also returned for the third time, but this time was in the night, they kidnapped three more people and shot one person who tried confronting them.
As a result of this, the villagers on Friday night slept in the bush for the fear of the gunmen and for their own safety, as was narrated by another native of the community.
The community has become a residential area for criminals as many killings and kidnapping have been going on in the community over the years.
Last year, the community witnessed three kidnap incidents, the local catechist was the first to be kidnapped, followed by a young man who came back from Italy. The third was a trader on his way to the market. In each case, a ransom was paid before the victims were released.
Anayochukwu Agbo who is a journalist and also a native of the community why commenting on the incident said that; “The latest attack shows a dangerous trend. The gunmen were masked, unlike in previous kidnaps, suggesting heavier involvement of locals in the attack. The way they sacked the village suggests this could be a test run to what could happen during the coming elections.”
“That is why the security agencies should take this seriously as some paid gunmen have threatened to stop the electorate from voting in the southeast.”
He further suggested that Army checkpoint should be approved for their community.
