Since the beginning of the month of June, residents of Enugu State have been reminded of how precarious life has become in the state following the spike in kidnapping, routine killings and armed robbery.
However, one particular incident that has left a sour taste in the mouth of residents was the killing of a graduate of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Augustine Somuadina Ali, on June 2. Somuadina was said to have been kidnapped while going home to his village in Udi, Enugu State.
It was gathered that three days before he was kidnapped, Somuadina had procured a United Kingdom visa for his master’s degree programme. He was said to be heading to his village, Umuochi Ugwu in Orji Amokwe, Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State when he ran into the kidnappers.
It was further gathered that his body was found where it was dumped along on the roadside hours later even as his abductors never asked for ransom before his death. He was said to be the hope of his family; the reason they ensured that he moved to the UK for his master’s degree.
Similarly, a final-year student of the Institute of Management Technology (IMT) who boarded a mini-bus on his way to school was kidnapped. A huge ransom was reportedly paid for his release.
Penultimate Friday, masked gunmen numbering more than 30 attacked and killed a security operative identified as Onyebu Idoko, working with the Central Neighbourhood Watch in Igboeze North Local Government Area. He was on his way to work when the incident occurred.
According to a source, the hoodlums operated freely despite the presence of military and police formations the area.
The source said: “It was a terrible situation. The shock is too much for me. We saw them marching with guns and ordering people to clear the road until the neighbourhood watch member ran into them.
“They ordered the man who was riding on his motorcycle to alight and leave the arena. Then they shot him several times. His blood was flowing like water on the road.”
Apart from the routine killings, criminal gangs are holding the state hostage with their indulgence in armed robbery, which has become a daily occurrence in the state, particularly the state capital.
While the activities of criminals who use tricycles and mini-buses to rob and dispossess unsuspecting residents of their valuables persist, there have been rising cases of attacks on Point-of-Sale (POS) operators in recent weeks.
This is more pronounced around Gariki, One-day and Menuri axis in Enugu South Local Government Area of the state as well as Abakpa and Emene areas in Enugu East LGA.
A witness said that the robbers attacked the unsuspecting operators and succeeded in dispossessing them of huge cash.
A POS operator was also attacked at Texaco Junction, Abakpa, Enugu East, by some hoodlums who released gunshots into the air as they escaped.
On some occasions, the robbers even became emboldened to attack certain areas that were hitherto seen as no-go areas for criminals. For instance, on June 17, armed robbers operating in a brand new black bus stormed the popular Roban Stores Enugu along the popular Bisalla Road which is around the Government House Enugu.
It was gathered that the masked robbers, could not gain entry into the store as they were said to have been prevented, courtesy of internal security which automatically shut the doors against them.
However, the robbers reportedly escaped with two customer’s vehicles as well as its occupants. Another customer was also said to have been abducted as the invading robbers made good their escape.
While residents are getting more and more apprehensive over the activities of armed robbers, the incidence of kidnapping for ransom has assumed a disturbing dimension, particularly along the Enugu-Ugwogo Nike-Opi Nsukka Road, where bandits conduct regular acts of kidnapping, most times unchallenged.
It will be recalled that late last year, some kidnappers suspected to be herdsmen resident in the Ugwuogo Nike forests, took over the road and abducted travellers on a daily basis. The climax was the abduction of a former Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Dr Dan Shere, as well as some returning students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
Then governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, deployed heavy security to the road and even had to lead the police, arny and other security chiefs to the forests in Ugwuogo Nike. His visit led to the clearing of the forest for visibility and ended the kidnapping menace.
However, the bandits have now returned with more vicious attacks on motorists, while taking travellers hostage on a regular basis.
It was gathered that no fewer than 23 persons had been kidnapped for ransom on the said road between Tuesday June 20 and Friday June 23 despite the presence of more than 10 police and military checkpoints on the road. While some of the victims had regained freedom after payment of huge ransoms, others whose relatives were yet to raise the required ransom were still in captivity at the time of filing this report.
The Enugu-Ugwogo-Opi Nsukka Road is a stretch of road that is less than 10km long.
Some of the recent victims of kidnapping hail from Eha-Alumona community in Nsukka LGA. It was gathered that the families of four of the victims from the community were made to pay a total sum of N11 million as ransom for their relatives to regain freedom five days after they were kidnapped on the same road.