Tobias Sylvester
Many students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) have been allegedly kidnapped while returning to school after the eight-month-old strike embarked on by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
UNN Students Abducted
It was gathered that the students and an unspecified number of road users were abducted on Sunday evening along the Ugwuogo Nike-Nsukka Express Road.
Some lucky commuters, who managed to escape, said the kidnappers attacked at least six commercial buses, riddled them with bullets, and diverted the occupants to nearby bushes.
An unconfirmed report had it that the kidnappers have already contacted the families of victims, demanding N300 million ransom for their release.
A source told Vanguard that a woman and her son were among the victims of the kidnap incident, adding that while the son has been released, the woman is still in captivity. He equally said a medical doctor, who had regained his freedom, paid an undisclosed ransom to be set free
He also expressed surprise that such criminal activities could take place on the road with about six security checkpoints between Nike and Opi Junction in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu.
Police Launch Manhunt For UNN Students’ Kidnappers
Reacting in a statement on Thursday, the state police command’s public relations officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe said it has deployed security assets to the location with a view to rescuing the victims and arresting the perpetrators.
The statement was titled: “alleged abduction: Enugu CP orders adequate emplacement of security along Ugwuogo-Nike/Opi/Nsukka road, rescue of alleged abducted victims and arrest of culprits.”
It said, “Following the receipt of the report of alleged attack and abduction of some travellers at Agu-Ekwegbe community axis of Ugwuogo-Nike/Opi/Nsukka highway in the evening hours of 23/10/2022, the commissioner of police, Enugu State Command, CP Ahmed Ammani, has ordered the maximum deployment of operational and intelligence resources of the command to ensure adequate security on the said road, rescue unascertained number of persons allegedly abducted and arrest the hoodlums.”
“Consequently, the Commissioner has reassured users of the said road and the citizenry of the Command’s unwavering commitment to ensure that their security and safety are maximally maintained, while categorically stating that onslaught on unrepentant criminal elements in the State shall be sustained.”
KanyiDaily had also reported how unknown gunmen abducted an unspecified number of students of the Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU).
