UMUAHIA, Nigeria — A group of gunmen intercepted a bus carrying passengers along the Imo axis of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, kidnapping nine people, killing two, and robbing others of their belongings.
The incident occurred on Saturday, June 24, 2023, as the victims, who are from Amangwo Olokoro in Umuahia, were traveling to Enugu for a funeral.
One of the victims, who identified himself as Francis (not real name), narrated the ordeal to journalists in Umuahia on Sunday, June 25, 2023.
He stated that their Sienna Bus was flagged down at gunpoint near the Arondizuogu Junction and was then diverted off the expressway into a hamlet deep in the bush.
According to Francis, the armed men ordered the passengers to get out of the vehicle, sit on the ground, and remove their shirts, which were then used to blindfold them.
One of the passengers reportedly questioned the gunmen, leading to a brutal attack with a machete.
Francis further explained that upon arrival at the hamlet, two of the passengers were shot dead by the armed men.
The rest were taken hostage in three new Hummer buses at the hideout, which reportedly had around 50 men, 20 of whom were heavily armed.
“They told us that Umuahia people are ‘sabo to them’, that they asked us not to vote in the last election, and we went out to vote… They asked us to say our last prayers,” said Francis. After a terrifying ordeal, the hostages were eventually released and directed back to the main road.
The two deceased persons were identified as Chukwuemeka Nwachukwu, a pastor who initially confronted the gunmen, and Ifeanyi Onwunkwe, the local youth leader, who tried to escape.
The passengers were robbed of cash and cell phones.
A local journalist stated that the incident has cast a shadow of mourning over the area.
Attempts to contact the Imo Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Henry Okoye, were not successful.
However, a senior police officer at the Abia Police Command indicated awareness of the incident, but stated that no formal report had been made as the incident occurred in Imo State.
The local communities and authorities have been urged to remain vigilant and cooperate with law enforcement agencies to curb the rising menace of armed attacks in the region.
