Enugu State has been thrown into panic following a frightening surge in kidnappings along the ever-busy Ugwogo–Nike–Opi–Nsukka corridor, where armed gangs reportedly abducted travellers for three consecutive days, leaving residents and motorists in fear and outrage.
According to eyewitness accounts contained in the shared report, the latest attack occurred near the Api-Opi shrine, shockingly situated between two police checkpoints. The kidnappers were said to have intercepted vehicles, including a Sienna and a Corolla, forcefully moving passengers into the bush with alarming confidence and precision.
The horror did not end there. Barely within 24 hours, another set of travellers was reportedly kidnapped at Amalla in Udenu LGA, near Igwe Roman of Umuenachi’s farm. At least five persons were abducted in Udenu LGA alone within the same time frame, escalating concerns that the entire road has become a major kidnapping flashpoint that remains disturbingly unchecked by both the Enugu State Government and security agencies.
Residents lamented that the kidnappers have established well-known flashpoints on the road—spots widely recognised by drivers yet left unsecured by authorities. This brazen pattern of daily abductions has heightened fear among commuters, many of whom now avoid the route entirely.
In a chilling recount, the witness emphasized:
- “They kidnapped 3 days ago,”
- “They kidnapped 2 days ago,”
- “They kidnapped yesterday again.”
The mounting tension has sparked renewed calls for urgent, decisive intervention before the situation spirals further out of control.
As one terrified resident stated: “Make una dey play…”—a stark warning that Enugu’s once-safe highways appear to have fallen under the grip of criminals operating with troubling audacity.
Authorities are yet to issue a formal statement on the escalating crisis.
