An unidentified driver of Sienna bus has been shot by suspected Fulani herdsmen along the deadly Okigwe-Uturu road. The hoodlums also kidnapped some passengers in the attacked bus and also abducted about 7 students of Abia State University.
The incident occurred at about 6:20 pm at the boundary area of Okigwe-Uturu road, a stone-throw to Abia State University main campus, which has deep valleys.
It was gathered that the slain driver of the Sienna bus was slowly negotiating the ringed part of the road when the criminals emerged from the bush and signalled him to stop.
In a bid to make a detour, the hoodlums shot the driver dead and kidnapped other passengers in the bus and took them to unknown place.
Also, about seven students of Abia State University who were traveling to the school were kidnapped on Tuesday by the same group of hoodlums, along the same Okigwe-Uturu road.
Until the time of writing this report, the kidnapped students and other passengers have not been rescued, though the Abia State government said it was on top of the matter. It is not yet established if there has been communication between the families of the victims and their abductors.
It is understood that one the kidnapped students of ABSU is Emmanuel Ubani, a 200-level student of Business Administration who is an indigene of Isiala Ngwa North LGA of Abia.
Meanwhile, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has expressed his sadness over the development.
In a statement on Wednesday by the Commissioner for information and strategy, Barr Eze Chikamnayo lamented that, “Abia State government has been informed of yet another incident of senseless kidnapping and unfortunate death of innocent citizens especially students around the ABSU – UTURU- OKIGWE axis and Umunneochi – Ihube Area occasioned by the criminal activities of mindless terrorists.
Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu is a very proactive, security conscious Leader who over the years has proven through visible results that the safety and welfare of all Abians and Nigerians is his topmost priority.”
“We as a government, are saddened by this ugly development around our boundaries with Imo State and are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that normalcy is quickly restored .
However, we may not for operational reasons be able to go into further details at this time so as to safeguard the processes already put in place by our hardworking Security Agencies and Government Authorities.”
Abia government added, “Governor Ikpeazu assures all our Citizens of his total commitment in the aforementioned regard while urging all to remain calm and maintain the peace.”
Barely two months ago, seven students of ABSU were kidnapped by bandits along the same Okigwe-Uturu road but were later freed after allegedly paying some ransom.
In 2021, two lecturers of the same institution were also kidnapped but later regained freedom from captivity while male student of Marist College, a famous Catholic school was killed by a group of bandits along the road.
