- Two victims have since been released after paying ransom, while others, including the soldiers and NYSC members, are still held captive
A yet-to-be-confirmed number of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members were among the 35 passengers abducted by suspected herders along Enugu-Nsukka Road in Enugu State’s Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area on January 9, 2025.
The attackers targeted three 18-seater buses, kidnapping passengers, including four Nigerian Army personnel. While one soldier, PTE Usendu Emediong, managed to escape, others—PTE Usoro Ezekiel Paul, Jeremiah Inimbom Thomas, and PTE Victor Itiat Godwin—remain in captivity.
According to local sources, hunters on a routine patrol encountered the kidnappers in the bush but had to hide as they overheard the abductors shooting a victim who could no longer walk. Later, military operatives and hunters discovered the victim’s body and took it to a morgue.
Two victims have since been released after paying ransom, while others, including the soldiers and NYSC members, are still held captive. Rescue operations have intensified, with the military and police deploying ground troops and helicopters to locate the kidnappers.
Among those still held is Abasifreke Victor Joseph, an NYSC member from Akwa Ibom State traveling to her duty post in Kogi State. Her family confirmed that the kidnappers have demanded a N20 million ransom, threatening to kill her if it is not paid.
The abduction highlights ongoing security challenges in the region, with authorities ramping up efforts to rescue the victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.
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