There was palpable tension in Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State as bandits abducted 10 passengers and took them into the bush on Thursday evening.
The bandits who were suspected to be Fulani herdsmen were reportedly armed with dangerous weapons.
It was gathered that the travelers who boarded the vehicle at the motor park opposite the Abia State University Uturu were on their way to Akara in Isuikwuato.
Their vehicle was said to have been flagged down by the bandits who immediately marched the travelers into the bush. The victim’s identities are yet to be ascertained as of the time of filling this report.
According reports the hoodlums were later engaged in a gun duel by soldiers in a nearby military checkpoint but they managed to escape with their victims.
There is no information yet about the victims as their abductors are yet to make any contacts.
In a separate incident, a woman was abuducted and raped to death by hoodlums also suspected to be Fulanis.
The victim who was reportedly stabbed by the bandits hailed from Amagu, Mbaugwu, Uturu in Isuikwuato LGA.
The Isuikwuato LGA Chairman, Hon. Chima Agbaeze confirmed the incident while decrying the activities of Fulani herdsmen in the LGA.
The council boss said intelligence revealed that some of the bandits operate from Lokpanta where there is a concentration of Fulani community at the Cattle market, hence the synergy with Umunneochi LGA where the regional market is domiciled.
According to him, “It’s so annoying that I have four security checkpoints comprising the Army, police and local vigilante on that road between Uturu and Isuikwuato yet such thing happened.”
On the identity of the abducted travellers, he said efforts were ongoing to unravel it.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer PPRO, Geoffrey Ogbonna, also confirmed the incident.
Ogbonna, however, added that efforts have been intensified to rescue the victims.
