Suspected kidnappers have abducted eight people, including a traditional priestess and four farmers, in the Ohebe Orba area of Enugu State’s Udenu LGA.
The victims were seized on Wednesday night while the priestess and three others were en route to a river for a spiritual ceremony.
Family members of the kidnapped individuals were contacted by the abductors, who initially demanded a N50 million ransom before reducing the amount to N15 million.
Senator Okey Ezea raised an alarm over the deteriorating security in the area, saying that criminal elements and Fulani herders had effectively taken control of the Enugu North zone.
The recent abduction comes just as 15 previously kidnapped individuals regained their freedom from captivity in the Ibagwa Agu farming community in Nsukka on April 17.
In another related event, 13 people, including a man named Maurice Osmond, his son, and another child, were kidnapped on April 12 in Ibagwa Agu.
The kidnappers are said to have demanded N10 million per hostage.
Osmond had reportedly traveled to the area with his son for a school entrance exam and was visiting relatives when he was abducted, according to a Facebook post by broadcaster Chijinkem Ugwuanyi.
Residents of the area are growing increasingly anxious as kidnapping incidents mount. Many are urging authorities to act decisively to curb the escalating crisis.
The Enugu State Police Command has continued its anti-kidnapping efforts. In an earlier operation in October 2024, two suspected kidnappers were shot dead, and one captive was rescued.
Attempts to get a response from Police PRO, SP Daniel Ndukwe, were not successful as he did not answer calls as of the time of filing this report.