Female farmer, tricycle operator rescued from kidnappers in Umuahia
Youths in Abia State Rescue Kidnapped Residents
Umuahia, Abia State – Community members in Umuawa Alaocha, located in the Umuahia North Local Government Area, successfully rescued two residents who had been kidnapped by suspected herdsmen. The victims, Mr. Dennis Izuchukwu, a tricycle operator, and Mrs. Onyinyechi Ekechukwu, a farmer, were abducted around 5:00 p.m. Wednesday.
The incident prompted an immediate response from local youths and vigilante groups in Umuawa Alaocha and nearby villages, who mobilized a search effort. Their determination paid off just after midnight when they located and freed the victims, who had sustained various injuries during their captivity.
In a statement from his hospital bed following the rescue, Izuchukwu explained the circumstances surrounding their abduction. He reported that Mrs. Ekechukwu had hired him to transport cassava she had harvested from her farm. While returning, they encountered approximately six armed individuals, one of whom emerged from the bushes with a firearm.
“I initially thought it was a joke,” Izuchukwu said. “But then others surrounded us.”
The kidnappers allegedly took them deep into the forest, identifying themselves as bandits and demanding a ransom of N10 million each for their release. Izuchukwu noted that Mrs. Ekechukwu pleaded for leniency, offering only N50,000, which enraged the captors. They reportedly began to beat her in response.
During their ordeal, Izuchukwu recounted that one kidnapper suggested shooting them, but another ordered him to wait.
Anderson Akaliro, the representative for Umuahia North in the Abia State House of Assembly, condemned the incident. He expressed concern over the increasing banditry in the area and acknowledged the significant injuries Izuchukwu suffered during the attack. Akaliro praised the bravery and community spirit displayed by the vigilante group and local youths in the rescue operation.
