Motorists plying Opi-Nsukka road in Enugu State are jittery following the kidnap of an operative of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) identified as Emeason Chima.
It was gathered that the incident occurred around the Ekwegbe/Opi axis along the Enugu-Ugwuogo highway. Chima is attached to RS4.211, the Ugbokolo unit of the agency, and was kidnapped on Saturday, THE WHISTLER reports.
“It is disturbing because of the presence of over six police and two military checkpoints around the route he was kidnapped,” a driver who passed the road Sunday morning said.
Another driver was heard saying, “I thought the kidnapping incidents along that road have ended. The state police command recently arrested and neutralised many kidnappers.
“More checkpoints were also created. I wonder how they succeeded in kidnapping the young man. At times I wonder if our security men are sincere in discharging their duties.”
It was reported that the kidnappers had demanded N50m ransom to release the victim.
According to an FRSC official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the abductee was alone when he was kidnapped.
An internal memo within the agency confirmed that the gunmen – using the officer’s phone -demanded a ransom of N50m.
The memo read, “The Command Is In Receipt Of Information About The Kidnap Of SRMA Emeason Chima,” Emmanuel Al-Hassan, Ugbokolo unit commander, said in the memo.
“Place Of Incidence: After Maduka University, Nsukka Enugu Road through OPI junction, in Enugu State. Information extracted so far confirmed that the staff member was driving alone in a Toyota saloon car when he was kidnapped.
“The unit commander has already been contacted by the kidnappers using the staff phone, where a demand of N50m ransom has been made,” he said.