On Tuesday, May 6th, 2025, at about 6.21pm, hoodlums resumed their kidnapping activities on the busy Owerri/Aba Express Road, along Umuechem , Umuhu in Ngor Okpala LGA axis.
This time they shot dead a Hilux driver, took away his Boss, hijacked a “God is Good Motors”, dragged out all the Passengers and took them inside the bus.
They also stopped an Akwa Ibom Transport Company Bus, kidnapped the driver and the Passengers, which included some female Students of University of Uyo returning to School.
When TRUMPETA Reporter arrived on the spot, it was like a war Zone, as some of the escaped passengers were foraging out of the bushes, with various degrees of wounds.
A known Artist and Sculptor,Chief Charles Okata of Okata Theatre was among the victims who were lucky to have escaped without bullet wound ,as the Terrorists rained bullets without care.
Some of the Passengers who spoke to TRUMPETA NEWSPAPER at the scene said they are Fulanis, and preferably Herdsmen, even though they wore Police Uniforms to disguise themselves, but their language gave them up.
“They are Fulanis. I heard their Language and Thank God I escaped. But I lost all my valuables including my handset. And they took away some of my Colleagues”, a female who claimed to be a Student of University of Uyo cried.
The Villagers(Umuechem, Umuhu) said that was the Seventh time, at the same spot,the Kidnappers have operated with impunity, since March this year.
They said that there is always Security Posts along the road from Imo Airport Junction.
But unfortunately,the Kidnappers also strike whenever the security posts were dismantled between 6 to 6.30 pm.
“They seem to work with Information. Whenever the Police leave, they strike and within 30 minutes they are done, taking their victims into the Bush.
An eye witness said that, that of Tuesday was the most devastating, both in operation and the number of Victims taken away including for the first time killing a victim.
They said that after nearly a month now there was combing of the bushes and sacking of Herdsmen in the area, their activities stopped.
“Only yesterday, at about 3am in the morning I saw Fulani Herdsmen with their cows in our Community. This morning we held a meeting to alert our people that these Herdsmen are back and for people to be alert. Now, just this evening the Kidnapping resumed”, Nze Sunday Okere told TRUMPETA.
The Traditional Ruler of Umuhu Autonomous Community, HRH Eze Basil Anyanwu has appealed for help for his Community.
He said they have done all they could, including setting up of local Security outfit, but the kidnappers carry sophisticated weapons.
“We don’t know what else to do. May Government come to our aid and root off this evil in our land”, he pleaded.
Meanwhile, the Kidnapping activities along the Owerri/Aba Road, Imo State has elicited a lot of reactions.
Many wonder why the menace had continued, even at the same spot and time schedule with the State Government and Security Operatives not finding a final solution to the situation.
“It has become an embarrassment and a failure on the part of the Government and Security Personnel. The road is important to Imo Economy. It does not only lead to Aba, the commercial city, but to Imo Airport”, Dr Agaptus Onuegbu said.
Many believe that not much has been done to flush out the perpetrators just as the activities of these Criminals on that road is bringing bad image to Imo State and portray Imo as insecure.
“Let Government throw its security weight into this embarrassing situation and flush these fools out”,
Chief Collins Nwachukwu said.
