Eight persons, including a traditional priestess and four farmers, have been reportedly abducted by suspected kidnappers in Ohebe Orba, Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
DAILY GAZETTE gathered that the incident occurred on Wednesday night, April 16, 2025.
The priestess, along with three other worshippers, was said to be heading to a nearby river for rituals when they were intercepted and taken away by the gunmen.
The kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of N50 million but later reduced their demand to N15 million after contacting the families of the victims.
Confirming the worsening security situation, Senator Okey Ezea, who represents Enugu North Senatorial District, said: “Kidnappers and Fulani herdsmen have taken over Enugu North Senatorial Zone including Nsukka.”
The latest incident comes just a day after 15 abducted individuals were released from captivity at the Ibagwa Agu farm settlement in Nsukka Local Government Area.
They were freed on Thursday, April 17, 2025.
This development follows a similar case reported on April 12, when 13 individuals, including Maurice Osmond, his son, and another child, were kidnapped in the Ibagwa Agu community, also in Nsukka LGA.
The kidnappers reportedly demanded N10 million ransom for each victim.
While the Enugu State Police Command has made recent strides in combating kidnapping, including a raid in October 2024 where two suspected kidnappers were neutralized and a victim rescued, the frequency of abductions remains alarming.
