Tension Grips Enugu State Community As Gunmen Kidnap Eight Travellers
There is palpable tension in Enugu State following the shocking abduction of at least eight travellers by yet-to-be-identified gunmen in Obioma community, along the Udi-Oji River road in Udi Local Government Area. The brazen act has plunged the local community into fear and uncertainty, raising serious concerns over the growing insecurity within the state.
The incident reportedly occurred on Sunday, June 1, 2025. As of the morning of Tuesday, June 3, no credible information has been received about the whereabouts of the victims. Despite growing anxiety and community efforts, the victims remain missing, deepening the state of alarm in the area.
Community members who spoke to GEENCEE recounted the grim discovery of the kidnapping. It was only late on Sunday that the crime came to light after several abandoned vehicles were found along the road, engines still running and doors flung open—an eerie scene that signaled something had gone terribly wrong.
“We are no longer safe travelling on the road within the state. They (criminals) have chased our people out of their farms and now they cannot move within their neighbourhood. We are in trouble and government appears overwhelmed with constantly maintaining silence in the face of these security challenges,” a resident told our correspondent.
This chilling sentiment reflects the broader fears now gripping many in Enugu. Community sources claim that kidnapping and attacks have become daily occurrences in the state—especially in rural and semi-rural areas—though they are often underreported or ignored by authorities. According to residents, the failure of security agencies to proactively address the deteriorating situation has left citizens vulnerable and fearful.
A disturbing video clip obtained by GEENCEE and corroborated by local vigilante sources showed two of the abandoned vehicles used by the travellers: a Toyota Sienna with registration number Abuja RBC-96 HS and a Mercedes Benz SUV with registration number Abuja RSH 40 BL. The video, which has been circulated on social media and local WhatsApp groups, bore the title: “Urgent security issue at UDI axis. If you could identify the owners of these vehicles, kindly reach their family members.”
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The video has further heightened public anxiety, especially among families with loved ones who were travelling along that corridor over the weekend.
The kidnapping comes barely two weeks after the Enugu State Police Command had announced the successful rescue of 21 kidnapped victims across the state in various sting operations. In a press statement dated May 24, Commissioner of Police Mamman Bitrus Giwa disclosed that one of the major operations took place on May 23, when a joint team comprising operatives from Okpuje Division, the Neighbourhood Watch, Forest Guards, and local hunters engaged in a gunfight with suspected kidnappers. Eight hostages were rescued unharmed during the operation, and one suspect was neutralised.
At that time, CP Giwa had vowed to intensify efforts to capture fleeing suspects and dismantle criminal gangs operating in the region. However, the latest abduction has cast doubt on the durability and reach of those security efforts.
Worsening the situation is the conspicuous silence from the police regarding the latest abduction. Multiple attempts by GEENCEE to contact the Enugu State Police Command’s spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, proved unsuccessful. Calls went unanswered, and a detailed text message sent to his official line had not received any reply as of press time.
The security vacuum has prompted renewed calls for a more aggressive and sustainable approach to tackling crime in Enugu State. Civil society actors and concerned citizens are now urging Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah to convene a security summit and work with federal agencies to beef up intelligence operations, deploy surveillance technology, and increase community-policing initiatives.
Security analysts note that while Enugu has long enjoyed a reputation as one of the more stable states in the Southeast, that status is rapidly eroding. The once-peaceful corridors of Udi, Nsukka, and parts of Nkanu West have increasingly become hunting grounds for criminal gangs suspected to include herdsmen, displaced bandits, and local collaborators.
“We cannot allow Enugu to go the way of Zamfara or Kaduna,” said Barrister Chuka Aneke, a lawyer and public policy advocate. “We need proactive security policies that include investment in intelligence gathering and rapid response infrastructure. This latest incident at Obioma is not isolated. It is part of a broader pattern that must be urgently addressed.”
Local residents are also taking steps to protect themselves, with many forming vigilante groups and partnering with hunters to monitor their communities. However, these self-help efforts remain grossly underfunded and ill-equipped to match the firepower and sophistication of the kidnappers.
“What we need is real partnership with the government. These boys are using advanced weapons and GPS tracking. We are using bows, sticks, and dane guns. How can we compete?” a vigilante leader in Udi lamented.
The psychological toll of insecurity is also taking root. Farmers have abandoned their lands in parts of Udi and Ezeagu, and parents now escort their children to and from school, sometimes in groups. Public transportation has also taken a hit, with commercial drivers avoiding routes deemed unsafe. The net effect is an economy under siege, where productivity is hampered by fear.
Despite repeated assurances by the state government, confidence remains low. Many citizens argue that the security architecture is neither people-oriented nor integrated enough to address the specific threats facing rural communities. Experts recommend that community-based policing, enabled by modern surveillance tools such as drones and mobile tracking apps, be integrated into the broader strategy.
In Abuja, a source within the Ministry of Police Affairs acknowledged the challenges facing southeastern states, including Enugu. “The truth is that we need more boots on the ground, but also better intelligence. Criminal networks are using the forest routes and poorly monitored borders to their advantage. What we see in Udi today is part of a much larger security gap.”
Until then, the fate of the eight kidnapped victims remains unknown. Families are left in anguish, with many appealing for help from both the government and the public. A relative of one of the victims took to social media, writing: “Please help us find my brother. He was coming back from Nsukka. We saw the car. He’s nowhere to be found. If you know anything, contact us.”
As the days pass, the urgency to rescue the abducted travellers intensifies. The question now is not just whether the state can find the missing victims, but whether it can restore a sense of safety to a traumatized population.
Until meaningful action is taken, Enugu’s quiet towns and roads may continue to be marked not just by their beauty, but by the silent terror of disappearances in broad daylight.
