HAPPENING NOW: UZO UWANI NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH, ENGAGE KIDNAPPERS IN A GUN DUEL, RESCUE 9 VICTIMS, RECOVER CASH, PERSONAL BELONGINGS AS ABDUCTORS ESCAPE WITH BULLET WOUNDS

By Olayiwola Ibrahim // In a way to curb kidnapping, a combinned team of Gallant Neighborhood Watch personnel from Adaba and Umulokpa in Uzo Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, in collaboration with the Nigerian police have rescued Nine kidnap victims after engaging their abductors in a gun duel.

Report indicates that nine persons were kidnapped along Amagu-Umulokpa-Olo road on Wednesday, 21st of May, 2025, at about 18:30hrs by some gunmen.

But through the efforts of the joint local security operatives from Adaba/Umulokpa, in collaboration with a DPO in Oji River and the Area commander Ezeagu region, the victims were however, rescued between Ukpata and Uvuru, while the criminals were trying to cross them through Anambra forest.

According to the SPA on Communication & Strategy to the Executive Chairman of Uzo Uwani LGA, Solomon Gwiyi, indicate that the victims were on their way from Umulokpa/Adaba to Enugu after Eke market, when the kidnappers shot at the bus conveying them.

Upon the breaking of the unfortunate incident on Wednesday evening, the joint Neighborhood watch groups, mobilized its operatives into the forest along that axis for their possible rescue and the arrest of the perpetrators.

When they couldn’t find the abductors on Wednesday evening, they remobilized on Thursday morning, 22nd of May, 2025, alongside two top police officers who joined in the search exercise.

The operations eventually paid off as the Operatives from Adaba engaged them from their axis, while the operatives from Umulokpa angle alongside the police closed-in on them from the other end in a gun duel, which forced them to escape with gunshot injuries, leaving the victims behind.

Efforts are ongoing to ensure the arrest of these miscreants and other criminal elements in the LGA;” Gwiyi said.

Howevever, the rescued victims are currently cooling off at Adaba while the trail of the fleeing kidnappers has continued.

Meanwhile, the security personnel involved in the operation, recovered cash and other items abandoned by the abductors while escaping for their life.

Those rescued victims included three boys and six women, (including a pregnant woman).

While we commend the Executive Chairman of Uzo Uwani LGA, Barr. Chijioke Ezugwu for providing every necessary logics and welfare for the neighborhood watch operatives, we also commend the gallantry of the combined operations of Adaba/Umulokpa Neighborhood watch, as well as the police authorities involved for prioritising the maximum safety of the people of our LGA, he concluded.