Follow Us on Google
A mother and her three underaged sons abducted in a farm in Ugbene Ajima community, Uzo -Uwani Local Government ,Enugu State have been released after spending days in captivity. A close family source said the victims were released after N4m ransom was paid to the hoodlums. No arrest has been made by the police at the time of this publication.
The victims were abducted on Thursday, November 5, by suspected kidnappers at a farmland belonging to Enugu Ada Village in Ugbene Ajima, Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The incident reportedly occurred at Nwiyi Ivuruge, along the route leading to Umualogo Village in Nkpologu community, a neighbouring community that shares boundary with Ugbene Ajima. The news triggered a wave of restlessness and public fury among residents of the community.
The victims were identified as Mrs Bridget Okey, 47 and her three sons, Chukwubuike,14, Chukwuemeka, 12, and Chijioke, 10. A close family source disclosed that the kidnappers contacted them and allegedly demanded N40million ransom. However, with intense media and security pressure, the criminals hurriedly collected N4million from the family and released the four victims.
It was reported that donations came from relatives, inlaws, villagers and friends of the family to secure the release of the victims. The Councilor representing Ugbene Ajima Ward II in Uzo Uwani Local Government Area, Charles Ogbobe, had in a statement yesterday solicited the collective efforts, prayers, and financial contributions towards the search and safe return of the victims.
It was reported that the Chairman, Uzo Uwani LGA, visited the scene of the incident on Saturday and promised swift action towards the rescue of the abducted victims. The incident is particularly distressing because it involved a mother and her children, who had ventured into their farmland in pursuit of their daily livelihood, only to fall victim to the growing menace of kidnapping.
It is difficult to imagine the fear, anguish and psychological trauma the victims experienced for days in the hands of their abductors.
The abduction raises disturbing questions about the poor security architecture in Uzo Uwani, the safety of rural dwellers and the growing vulnerability of farmers, who can no longer go to their farm swithout the fear of being killed, raped or kidnapped.
Villagers are worried that the successful collection of ransom by the hoodlums would embolden them in their crime, and trigger more kidnapping cases in the rural area, with its massive landmass and forest reserves.
“Our farmlands have become hunting grounds for kidnappers. Our villages have become safe havens for criminals. And our children now live in fear of being kidnapped in the farm. We call on the security agencies to fish out the perpetrators in order to reassure local communities of their safety,” the councillor stated.
