Kidnappers invade Imo communities, kill youth, abduct another

From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri

Ndegwu, Amakohia-Ubi communities in Owerri West Local Government Area ( LGA)of Imo State are currently at the mercy of God as kidnappers daily abduct indigenes of the communities.

Latest is the abduction of a youth in Amakohia-Ubi, Chidera Anyawocha, popularly known as NEPA. He was abducted by suspected Fulani herdsmen in a pig farm where he worked on Sunday and subsequently shot to death without demanding for  ransom.

Anyawocha,sadly was abducted and killed on his birthday, February, 16.

A relation who confirmed the incident wrote in his Facebook handle:”My heart is heavy as I write this. Today, we should have been celebrating your birthday, but instead, we mourn your loss. “Yesterday, February 16,2025, your life was brutally taken away by the ruthless Funani herdsmen kidnapping people here and there in Owerri-West.

“You, Mr. Chidera Anyawocha, fondly known as Nepa, was a beacon of light in our community of Amakohia-Ubi, Owerri-West. Your absence leaves a void that can never be filled. May your soul rest in eternal peace”. The source lamented.

This development has thrown the whole community into a mourning when his corpse was discovered next day by youths and vigilantes of the community.

Similarly, another youth known as Marcus from same community was abducted a week ago but fortunately he escaped from his abductors.

In a related development, an elderly man was  said to have been abducted in a farmland at Umuomara ,Ndegwu, while fetching firewood at the hours of Friday, February 14.

Although, the man was later released without paying a ransom but his abductors were said to have given him a deep matchete cut in the head and almost chopped off his finger before letting him go .

The situation has left many of the indigenes of the communities staying away from their farmlands.