₦airaland Forum

Nigeria’s NYSC Members Among 35 Passengers Kidnapped By Gunmen In Enugu, Millions Of Naira Demanded From Families

Ayet-to-be confirmed number of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members were among those abducted by suspected herders at Enugu-Ezike in the Igbo Eze North local government area of Enugu State.

SaharaReporters had exclusively reported how gunmen on Thursday, January 9, 2025, abducted about 35 passengers along Enugu-Nsukka Road in the community.

Three buses were attacked, and initially, four Nigerian Army personnel were taken, but one, PTE Usendu Emediong (24NA/87/7560), managed to escape.

However, PTE Usoro Ezekiel Paul (24NA/87/6751), Jeremiah Inimbom Thomas (24NA/87/7937) and PTE Victor Itiat Godwin (24NA/87/8348) were taken away with the other passengers.

“They successfully attacked three 18-seater buses and kidnapped at least 35 people from these buses forcefully. In the course of moving the victims into the bush, one of them managed to escape. It was when he came out that he narrated how they were kidnapped and we got to know he is a soldier,” a source had said.

“Yesterday, local hunters, about three of them from my village on their usual routine encountered the kidnappers in the bush but had to hide. They heard one of victims complaining that he couldn't continue walking as he was tired but guess what? He was shot dead.

“Hours after, both the local hunters and the military operatives entered the bush and saw the dead body which was later taken to the morgue,” he said.

Speaking to SaharaReporters on Tuesday, the source said two of victims were set free after paying a ransom.

He also confirmed that some NYSC members were among those abducted and still in captivity.

“Well, apart from the soldiers, some NYSC members were among the victims. The kidnappers had contacted family members of all the victims.

“However, since your report on Sunday, rescue operations have intensified. A soldier told me the army saw the report as an embarrassment to the military.

“Now, we have soldiers, police and others everywhere. They are even making use of helicopter to search for them.

“As at yesterday, two victims were released after paying an undisclosed amount while the others including the soldiers and corps members are still in captivity,” the source said.

Meanwhile, the family of one of the kidnapped corps members identified as Abasifreke Victor Joseph said her abductors have threatened to kill her if they fail to pay a ransom of N20 million.

SaharaReporters learnt that Abasifreke was en route to her NYSC duty in Kogi State.

A family source said, “Yes, she’s Abasifreke Victor Joseph from Akwa Ibom state. She was among those kidnapped along Enugu Road.

“She boarded a vehicle that was heading to Enugu State at Nasarawa Road, Uyo, since there was no direct vehicle from Akwa Ibom State to Kogi State on Thursday, January 9, 2025.

“Her sister was communicating with her throughout the journey till 2 pm when she (sister) called again and her number failed to connect.

“The kidnappers called the parents on Friday, January 10, 2025 at about 1:46 pm and demanded a ransom of N20 million or she would be killed.”

A middle-aged man, who has yet to be identified, was killed by gunmen on Monday afternoon in Ibadan metropolis, Oyo State.

The incident occurred at Anfani junction along Ring Road, at about 3p.m.

Nigerian Tribune learnt from an eyewitness that the assailants, who were on motorcycles, trailed the victim to the location where he was shot.

According to the source, “we heard gunshots. He was shot twice. At first, we thought it was a tire burst, but then we saw the young man lying in a pool of his blood.”


He further recounted: “He was shot in the abdomen. They didn’t take his phone, but they took something from him that was likely to be money. We suspected that he must have been coming from a bank.”

Another motorcycle rider who witnessed the scene said: “I first thought it was police pursuing Yahoo boys. But when he was shot, we all had to run for safety. By the time we realized they were killers, they had moved toward Anfani Road.”


When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Oyo State Police Command, CSP Adewale Osifeso, confirmed the incident, saying that it was already under investigation while efforts were being made to get the deceased’s identity.

He added that an update would be provided as the investigation progresses.

Ojagun:
Atalanta will not only score but they will also win the game
No shaking

ChizzyBuna:
Last game to win 1.8 million and 190k

Atalanta to score
Atalanta is at home Juve is away
But Juventus h2h is crazy

Juventus has never lost an away game. They win or play 0-0

My greatest fear is if juventus hold atalanta to a 0-0 draw

Can atalanta score against juventus

Umuinyioku:
Check well and find out what he said about education in southeast.

Umuinyioku:
No, they are not in same group.

Simon Ekpa is a criminal, robot and sponsored by Nigerian state to destabilize southeast.

Softmirror:
I was expecting you to say this. I purposely tipped in that question because there is more to it than being from Edo and have been employed since the 90s.

Softmirror:
Igbos are starting to succumb to pressure of accepting others. This is a good development in 2025 and not many decades ago.

helinues:
Rampage in some particular areas. Stop generalizing

Family and friends of Salome Eleojo Adaidu, who was allegedly killed by a gospel singer Timileyin Ajayi, has opened up on what actually transpired between them According to viral reports, Salome was Timileyin's girlfriend, however, her family said that it was not true.

They added that Salome Adaidu entered a wrong Keke and was kidnapped by Timileyin, who later murdered her.

Family of the lady Salome Eleojo Adaidu, who was allegedly murdered by a gospel singer Timileyin Ajayi, has revealed the relationship between the deceased and the artiste. Family of lady killed by gospel singer shares how he kidnapped her. Image credit: @ijeomadaisy/IG, @ceasar.t Source: TikTok Contrary to widespread reports, a Facebook user Alli Stephen said that Salome was not Timileyin's girlfriend and he lied about his statement when he was arrested by the police. The netizen added that Salome was like a sister to him. Speaking further, Alli said that Salome left home by 11 am on Sunday, January 12, 2025, to see her friend at Karu, Nasarawa state, and she entered the wrong Keke.

According to Alli, he spoke to Salome's older sister at 2pm and later by 6 pm in the evening that dat. Afterward, Salome's sister called him and said that her sister was dead. He added that it was the bike man who carried her alleged murderer that raised the alarm because the bag he carried was dripping with blood.

How Timileyin Ajayi killed Salome Another Facebook user Abby Simon said that Salome is her friend's younger sister and she was not Timileyin's girlfriend. She stated that Timileyin kidnapped the deceased and killed her in the most gruesome way possible and was caught by the police. Abby added that she is currently at her house and what happened to Salome is not what any family should experience. She further noted that Abby was not a spoilt child, and she kept to herself. Besides, she hardly left her home except when necessary.

@smartofficial_: "By next week, he probably would have been cruising around with a Benz, meanwhile the ill-gotten money was from killing an innocent soul. More reason why I can never be moved by what my fellow guys have. If you see how these guys make their money, you would wish to keep hustling in a decent and upright way. God help us o."

@chiamakagracella: "I don’t even understand how will killing someone make you rich? The native doctor that told you to do so, is he rich?" @fusserchronic: "Jesus! And he’s in church pretty much every Sunday."

@thegirlrochelle: "No safe space for women in this world. You stay on your own problem, you mingle with people wahala. May God keep protecting all females out there."

@rosy_kesh: "The desperation to make money." Timileyin Ajayi's old motivational video surfaces Earlier, Legit.ng reported that an old video of Timileyin Ajayi, the man who killed his lover, had surfaced online after he was arrested by the police. The man had been accused of killing his lover in Abuja with the severed head of his lover founds in a nylon.

zero8zero:
Not exactly in Enugu, it happened along the road to Abakaliki. Compare this isolated case to the reoccurring incidents in Anambra in the last one month and see the wide gap.

A member of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Kayode Goriola, has been killed by suspected kidnappers in Igbe community in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the incident occurred at past midnight on Saturday.

It was gathered that the assailants stormed the area after entering through the swampy part of the community.

They however encountered Goriola and his colleague who attempted to foil the kidnap attempt.


A resident, Tunji Alao, who spoke to our correspondent on Monday said the kidnappers shot Goriola in the process and then whisked his colleague away.

He said, “Goriola and one of his colleagues were going about their duty when the kidnappers arrived through a swampy area in the community. The two of them attempted to restrict the kidnappers but they were overpowered. The kidnappers thereafter attempted to take them away but Goriola refused and that made them shoot him in the head and the other person was taken away.”

A resident who identified himself simply as Okla said it was the fourth time such an incident would happen in the community.


According to him, a couple was kidnapped in the previous attack while a security operative was killed and one other injured in the process.

He said, “The community is prone to kidnappings. And this is the fourth time kidnappers have attacked us. A man and a woman believed to be a couple was abducted from their vehicle last year and the kidnappers left their baby inside. A ransom was paid before they were released. A similar incident also resulted in the death of a member of the vigilante group, while their leader was shot in the arm and hospitalised for two months at the Ikorodu General Hospital.”

When contacted, the head of the vigilante group in the community, Lawal Abdullahi, confirmed the incident. He however claimed to be busy with the burial plans of the deceased.

“We have reported at the station about retrieving his corpse from the mortuary. You can hear people’s voices in the background. We can talk later in the night,” he said.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, could not be reached as calls made to his telephone were not responded to. A text message sent to him had yet to be replied to as of the time this report was filed.

zero8zero:
Bitter Obidient, early morning wailing don start . Tell your state Governor to return all the security votes he is collecting every month and not collect it anymore from the federal government. If Enugu Governor is as stupid as your Governor, peace would not have returned to Enugu by now. Osun Government arrested some suspected terrorists in the state, they didn't wait for federal government to come and police their border before security the state. You keep giving excuses for the failure of your Governor who is stealing away your future.

owem19:
I volunteer myself for this service, American is bleeding

duro4chang:
If you do not stop this rubbish, I will report you.

tutudesz:
Killing yourselves will not bring power back to the north :- Boko Haram and ISWA attacks have increased since December, the same has Jonathan time.
Is it political

Ohanaeze stated this in a statement signed by its Deputy President General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, on Sunday