Herdsmen Abduct 10 Travellers, Rape, Stab Woman To Death In Abia
Bandits suspected to be Fulani herdsmen on Thursday evening, abducted 10 passengers and took them into the bush in Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State.
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.
The bandits were said to have flagged down their vehicle and immediately marched the travelers into the bush. The victim’s identities are yet to be ascertained as of the time of filing this report.
Vanguard reported that the hoodlums were later engaged in a gun duel by soldiers in a nearby military checkpoint but they managed to escape with their victims.
In a separate incident, a woman was abducted and raped to death by a gang of bandits also suspected to be Fulanis whose menacing terrorist activities especially around the Uturu axis of the state.
The victim who was reportedly stabbed by the bandits hailed from Amagu, Mbaugwu, Uturu in Isuikwuato LGA.
The Isuikwuato LGA Chairman, Hon. Chima Agbaeze, who confirmed the dastardly incidents decried the activities of Fulani herdsmen in the area.
“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”, Agbaeze fumed.
Agbaeze stated that 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.
The Council boss said efforts were ongoing to unravel the identity of the abducted travelers and rescue the victims.
About two months ago commuters including lecturers and students of the Abia State University, Uturu were abducted around the same axis.
In a separate incident too, students of ABSU and other passengers enroute Okigwe were also abducted by Fulani herdsmen who have virtually taken control of the area.
The Fulani herdsmen, also recently, killed a final year student of Marist Comprehensive Academy Uturu when they shot at the school coaster conveying the students.
The incident took place opposite the gate of Okigwe LGA headquarters in the nearby Imo State.
The Police Public Relations Officer PPRO, Geoffrey Ogbonna, also confirmed the incident but said efforts were on to rescue the victims.
