Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Residents of Ihiagwa and Amaeze communities in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State have been gripped by fear following the killing of a commercial motorcyclist and the abduction of his female passenger by suspected armed herdsmen.
The incident, which occurred along the Ihiagwa–Amaeze road, has left the affected communities in a state of uneasy calm, with many residents expressing concern over rising insecurity in the area.
A relative of the abducted woman, who identified himself simply as Ibenyenwa, confirmed the development in a video message, describing the victim as a student of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), and the wife of his younger brother.
According to him, the woman was on her way to school when the attackers struck, killing the motorcyclist conveying her and whisking her away to an unknown destination.
“The lady is a student of FUTO and my younger brother’s wife. She was going to school when the incident happened. The herdsmen attacked them on the Ihiagwa-Amaeze road, killed the rider, and abducted her. The man who was killed is from Ihiagwa. This is what we are facing now,” he lamented.
Reacting to the attack, the Nzuko Owere General Assembly condemned the incident, describing it as part of a disturbing pattern of killings and kidnappings in Owerri Federal Constituency.
In a statement jointly signed by its National President, Hon. Dan Ikpeazu, and other officials, the group called on security agencies to urgently step up efforts to protect lives and secure the release of the abducted student.
The group decried what it termed the transformation of rural roads in the area into “death traps,” noting that residents, including farmers, students, traders, and transport operators, are increasingly exposed to attacks.
“This barbaric act is one too many. The lives of our people cannot continue to be treated as expendable,” the statement read in part.
While sympathising with the family of the slain motorcyclist and the Ihiagwa community, the group urged security agencies to intensify operations to rescue the victim and curb the activities of armed groups operating in the area.
It also advised residents to avoid isolated and poorly secured routes, particularly at dusk, and called on local vigilante groups to strengthen surveillance in collaboration with law enforcement authorities.
Attempts to obtain a response from the Imo State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, could not be reached as of the time of filing this report.
