On Monday evening, a dramatic turn of events unfolded in Iheakpu Ulo, Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State, as two kidnappers narrowly escaped mob justice following an accident that disrupted their criminal operation. The incident, which occurred around 4 p.m. near Obollo International Hotel, involved a Sienna bus carrying three abducted individuals. The vehicle reportedly lost control while avoiding potholes, leading to a crash that immobilized it and brought their crime to light.
Eyewitnesses recounted the moment the kidnappers hastily exited the crashed vehicle, an action that aroused suspicion among onlookers. According to Martins Nwanna, a resident of the area, “It happened near our house. When the bus fell while dodging some potholes, the manner the two men came out attracted us.” He further explained that upon closer inspection, people discovered three young individuals, incapacitated and tied together, inside the vehicle.
Realizing their exposure, the kidnappers quickly attempted to flee the scene. One of the criminals abandoned the area on foot, heading into a nearby bush while brandishing a firearm to deter pursuers. The second kidnapper displayed daring resolve by commandeering a parked motorcycle, which he managed to start and use to escape toward Obollo-Afor. Despite efforts by community members to pursue them, neither of the culprits was apprehended. Local neighborhood watch groups were subsequently informed and tasked with searching the surrounding areas for the escapees.
The abducted individuals, once freed, revealed harrowing details about their ordeal. They disclosed that they had been kidnapped earlier in a community within Nsukka Local Government Area and were being transported toward the Obollo-Oturkpo borders when the accident interrupted the criminals’ plans. The timely crash and intervention of bystanders saved them from further harm.
The incident brought back memories of prior criminal activity in the area. A local resident, identified as Ann, recounted an encounter with suspected kidnappers about a month earlier. She explained that her motorcycle had been forcibly taken by a group she believed to be the same culprits. “They halted me while I was riding my bike, pushed me aside, and lifted my ladies’ machine into their vehicle before driving off,” Ann said, emphasizing the ongoing threat posed by such criminal elements.