At least two unidentified occupants of a sports utility vehicle (SUV) were kidnapped by gunmen on Saturday afternoon. Sources revealed that the incident occurred in the Ifite area of Awka, close to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University’s back gate.
This incident comes as residents of Anambra State’s capital city, Awka, have lamented the worsening insecurity in the town. Last week, three persons alleged to be cultists were killed on Sunday, while another person was reported killed on Monday.
Saturday’s incident, captured in a video, showed hooded gunmen ordering the occupants out of their vehicle and into a black Sienna. A source in the area reported that the men shot into the air as they made away with the victims, and one of them also took the victims’ car.
Lawrence Ibemesi, a resident of Awka, stated, “We don’t know what’s happening in Awka anymore. Security personnel need to sit up because we can no longer understand these killings and kidnappings here and there.”
According to the Daily Post, the Anambra State Police Command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said, “We are studying the video and also liaising with anyone who is an eyewitness to go after the kidnappers. We have alerted our strategic teams at major flashpoints to be on the lookout.”
Regarding what the command is doing about the increasing insecurity and recent cult-related killings, Ikenga insisted that the command was not aware of any recent cult killings in the state capital. He instead asked the reporter to come to him with proof.
