Gunshot, Panic As Abia Youths Storm Forest, Rescue Abducted Widow, Tricyclist From Fulani Bandits

Youths of Ohuhu community in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State have rescued two abducted residents after launching a search operation into a forest where the victims were held by suspected kidnappers.

According to Vanguard, the victims, Mrs Onyinyechi Jonathan Ekechukwu, a widow and mother of four, and Mr Dennis Okechi, a commercial tricycle operator, were abducted on Wednesday, June 10, while returning from a farm.

The kidnappers reportedly seized them along a bush path after Ekechukwu had called Okechi to help transport harvested cassava home.

Narrating her experience, Ekechukwu said the armed men suddenly emerged from the bush and forced them into the forest.

“We were already riding home when we were suddenly stopped on the way by Fulani bandits who jumped out from the bush. They dragged us out of the Keke and marched us into the bush. We pleaded with them to have mercy on us but they threatened to kill us if we shouted,” she said.

According to her, the kidnappers moved them through the forest for several hours before demanding 10 million naira ransom from their families.

“When they abducted us about 3:00 p.m., the six-man gang collected our phones and kept moving us through the thick forest until about 10:00 p.m. when they brought out our phones and asked us to call our people for ransom. They said we should pay N10 million,” she added.

Ekechukwu said their captors abandoned them after youths from the community stormed the forest in large numbers and closed in on their hideout.

“Shortly afterwards, we started hearing gunshots followed by flashes of torchlight from our youths on a rescue mission. When their advancement became more intense and closer, the bandits suspected that they were being surrounded by the search party,” she said.

“Sensing danger, the bandits abandoned us, crossed the river and fled. It was at that point that we started shouting and the youths, who had stormed the forest in their numbers, quickly located us and rescued us.”

The widow said she feared she would not return alive, especially as her thoughts went to her children and her son studying at the University of Benin.

“That thought made me pray harder to God so I could set my eyes on my son again. I thank God He answered my prayers,” she said.

She commended the youths of Ohuhu for their courage, saying their swift intervention saved her and the tricycle operator from further danger.

Ekechukwu also lamented repeated invasion of farmlands by herders, saying crops had been destroyed without adequate intervention.

She called on government and security agencies to take decisive steps against kidnapping, open grazing and the movement of armed strangers through forests and farmlands.

The incident comes amid growing concerns over abductions across the country, with communities in several states still grappling with attacks, ransom demands and prolonged captivity of victims.