Kidnappers Abduct Passenger in Owerri, Demand ₦50 Million Ransom

(Suspected armed kidnappers. Photo credit: The Nation News)

On Tuesday, thugs who were suspect to be herdsmen ambushed a commercial biker on Umuekwune Umuguma Road and kidnapped his passenger.

Obinna Opara, the son of a late police inspector from Umumbe, Irete, in the Owerri West council area, was being made to stop with a weapon, according to a local source who spoke to Daily Sun. Fortunately, the biker was reported to have escaped as Opara slumped from the attack.

Later, Opara was reportedly hauled into the bush. According to a family source, his captors have already demanded a ransom of N50 million.

According to the source, "Obinna and the Okada rider were ambushed while they were on their way to transact a land business."

A commercial motorcyclist and his passenger were attacked in a similar event near the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) road. This time, the passenger—a female student—was kidnapped after the motorcyclist was killed.

In a press release, state police spokesperson Henry Okoye acknowledged the FUTO event and guaranteed that a manhunt for the thugs had begun.