Residents of Obollo Afor, Obollo Etiti, Ezimo and Imilike communities in Udenu Local Government Area (LGA) of Enugu State, have cried out to Governor Peter Mbah, the Inspector General of Police (IG), Kayode Egbetokun, and the General Officer Commanding the 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu, to rescue them from kidnappers suspected to be herdsmen, who have laid siege on the communities.

Some of the residents who spoke off-record, alleged that the police and other security agents in the communities have abandoned them to their fate.

Kidnappers suspected to be herdsmen, who have been operating unchallenged along Amalla-Obollo-Ezimo communities in Udenu have killed many residents of the communities.

No fewer than 10 residents of the communities have been kidnapped within the past three days by the gunmen, who also killed a resident of Ogbele Ohulor village in Obollo Afor, identified as Mr. Oformadu Eze.

A Catholic priest identified as Rev. Fr. Emmanuel narrowly escaped death when his car was riddled with bullets by the kidnappers on Tuesday night.

Another victim, Abuchi Asogwa, was not so lucky as he was shot by the rampaging gunmen.

On Wednesday night, another five victims were kidnapped along Ezimo Road in Imilike.

All the victims were still under captivity as of last night.

However, the kidnappers last night reduced the ransom for the first five victims from N20 million to N2million.

Among the five victims who were earlier kidnapped at Obollo Afor and Ezimo are Chimezie Ezeme, Chizoba Ugwu and Festus Ezeme.

While three of the victims are from Ogbele Ohulor Obollo Afor, two others are from Amogbele Ezimo.

Obollo Afor is the headquarters of Udenu Local Government Area, while Ezimo is the home town of Enugu State Deputy Governor, Ifeanyi Ossai and Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Frank Mbah.

The kidnappers had last month killed one of the policemen in a failed kidnap attempt in the neighbourhood.

However, in a statement issued by the Enugu State Police Command, the police had claimed that the slain officer was part of a police patrol team that responded to a distress call in the area.

Before the kidnappers killed the police officer, they had used the forest around Ezimo Bridge as their hideout.

They had also slaughtered a tipper driver around the bridge.

The Obollo Etiti part of Nsukka-Obollo-Afor-Ehamufu federal highway has also been under siege by the herdsmen, who have abducted and shot motorists along the highway, despite the presence of a military checkpoint. (Daily Sun)