Panic in Anambra as Gunmen Kidnap Six, Demand N76m Ransom
Residents of Dubai Estate near the Federal Road Safety Corps office in Awka, the capital of Anambra State, are in a state of panic following a series of kidnappings that have occurred over the past three weeks. Six individuals have been abducted, creating an atmosphere of fear and insecurity in the area.
According to FIRST CLASS GISTS, three of the kidnapped victims have been released after paying a ransom totaling approximately N76 million. Residents shared their experiences with the publication, expressing how the kidnappings have forced them to take precautions, such as returning home early and using alternative routes. Motorists have also avoided the estate junction after 7 p.m. due to safety concerns.
The kidnappers are reported to operate along the busy Onitsha-Awka-Enugu Expressway, ambushing unsuspecting victims and forcing them into waiting vehicles before speeding off. The estate, located near the NNPC Petrol Station, connects Dozzy Estate to Four Way Junction and is close to the second gate of Ngozika Estate.
An incident involving the kidnappers resulted in a vehicle being set on fire. Chief Uche Ogani recounted that a Toyota Camry belonging to a young man was torched when he fled from the kidnappers. The assailants shot at the car, which caught fire, while the young man sought refuge in a nearby building. Among those kidnapped was a professor who paid N31 million in ransom, and a young couple driving a Toyota Highlander who paid N45 million for their release.
Residents are now taking extra precautions, returning home early, and avoiding the dangerous areas. Ejikeme Uzoma, a shuttle bus driver, shared his harrowing experience of narrowly escaping the kidnappers. He witnessed a person lying in a pool of blood and a woman being dragged away by armed men as he drove off from the estate junction.
SP Tochukwu Ikenga, spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, confirmed that the police are investigating the incidents. He urged victims to come forward with information to aid the investigation, while cautioning against revealing details of the undercover operations to protect intelligence efforts.
“The command intercepted a voice note related to the alleged kidnappings and has put in place security measures to prevent such incidents,” Ikenga stated. “We encourage victims to assist us with information for a thorough investigation.”
