A man, Godwin Anuka, who was kidnapped along with his wife and two children by suspected Fulani herders in Ubulu-Uku, Delta State, has been killed in front of his family.
Harrison Gwamnishu, the Senior Special Assistant on Civil Society and Youth Mobilisation to the Delta State Governor, revealed this in a Facebook post on Wednesday.
According to Gwamnishu, the kidnappers had previously abducted two individuals on March 23 and taken them into the bush while demanding ransom. While hiding in the forest with their captives, they came across Anuka, his wife, and their two young children working on their farm and proceeded to seize them as well.
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He explained that the same group of armed assailants had earlier kidnapped Chibueze from Ogwashi-Uku before abducting another victim, Mr. Afam. They then crossed the Isah Ogwashi/Ubulu-Uku road to Power Line and moved towards a farm road in Ani-Uje Ubulu-Uku, where they set up camp.
While efforts were made to secure the victims’ release, including the involvement of the Ubulu-Uku vigilante group and military personnel mobilized by Aniocha South Local Government Chairman Jude Chukwunwike, the kidnappers only released some of the captives after receiving a ransom. Tragically, Anuka was shot and killed in front of his wife and children.
Gwamnishu stated, “After a substantial ransom was paid, the kidnappers freed Chibueze, Mr. Afam, Anuka’s wife, and their two children. However, we later learned that Anuka was killed right in the farm in the presence of his family.”
Attempts to reach Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, for comments were unsuccessful, as he had not responded to calls or messages at the time of reporting.
Earlier, PUNCH Metro had reported on March 28 that Gwamnishu raised concerns over the increasing cases of kidnappings in parts of the state, allegedly carried out by Fulani herders. He also referenced the killing of a female land agent, Esther Osaze, whose body was discovered days after her abduction.
Expressing grief over Esther’s death, Gwamnishu noted that several kidnapping victims remained in captivity because their families could not afford the ransom demanded by their abductors.
