By Richard Ogunsile

Three soldiers were reportedly abducted in a recent assault in Anambra State by some gunmen suspected to be herdsmen.

Reports obtained by Naija News on Sunday revealed that the assailants ambushed three buses, resulting in the initial abduction of four personnel from the Nigerian Army; however, one individual, PTE Usendu Emediong (24NA/87/7560), successfully escaped.

The incident happened in Enugu-Ezike, located in the Igbo Eze North local government area of Enugu State, with more than 35 passengers allegedly abducted by the gunmen suspected to be herdsmen.

This incident transpired on Thursday, January 9, 2025, along the Enugu-Nsukka Road.

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

SaharaReporters quoted an eyewitness to have reported that the kidnappers, numbering 17, forced all the passengers into the bush after conducting their operation for approximately one hour.

“Not far from where I’m lodging in my hometown in Enugu-Ezike, a 17-member ragtag Fulani herdsmen kidnap gang operated for about 60 minutes on a busy road that links the eastern part to the northern part of the country. The road is bad,” he said.

“They were 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.

“He said he and three others soldiers were going from Akwa Ibom to Kaduna State in one of the commercial vehicles.

“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.

“This Sunday morning, a helicopter has been hovering around this town causing apprehension among villagers, though without any rigid invasion to rescue the victims. I believe the Fulani herders and the victims are not still in the bush,” the individual stated.

A military signal obtained by newsmen on Sunday confirmed the kidnapping of the soldiers.

The communication indicated that members of the 87 Regular Recruits Intake (87RRI) were taken along the Enugu/Nsukka Road.

“TEXT: SPECIAL SITREP. NO0 AS AT 110900A JAN 25. KIDNAPPING AT ABOUT 101515A JAN 25 INFO RECEIVED FROM 24NA/87/7560 PTE USENDU EMEDIONG ETIM REVEALED THAT 3 X SLDRS OF 87RRI CMM 24NA/87/6751 PTE USORO EZEKIEL PAUL WITH PHONE NO 070****** CMM 24NA/87/7937 PTE JEREMIAH INIMBOM THOMAS WITH PHONE NO 080******* AND 24NA/87/8348 PTE ITIAT VICTOR GODWIN WITH PHONE NO 080****** WHILE RTN FROM PASS WERE KIDNAPPED ALONG ENUGU – NSUKKA RD AT ABOUT 091740A JAN 25 IN A COMMERCIAL VEH FROM AKWA IBOM TO KADUNA STATE. REQ YOU FWD INFO TO ASA FOR NEC ACTION. PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION IN PROGRESS. PSE ACK,” the signal released by Major AE Edet read.