Gunmen in Ebonyi kill London-based lady, demand N50m ransom for kidnapped colleague and relation

A tragedy befell the Afikpo community, located in the Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, when two people were abducted and one was killed.

At approximately 8:00 p.m. on New Year's Day, the thugs reportedly invaded the community along Ndibe Beach Road and opened fire on a motorcade carrying a local celebrity.

Five members of the kidnapping syndicate were observed following the convoy transporting Afikpo sons and daughters from London to Afikpo for the holiday season, according to additional investigation. As they approached, they stopped behind the vehicle of the individual and began firing erratically.

Upon perceiving an anomaly, the driver of one of the vehicles stopped, at which point the thugs proceeded directly towards the victims, requiring a boy from Owerri, Imo State, who was a relative in their company and had travelled from London, to board their vehicle.

The thugs then attempted to stop the vehicle carrying the individual in an attempt to possibly abduct him, but the driver of the Jeep refused to stop. As a result, they fired upon the vehicle and then punctured its tyres.

However, an eyewitness (name withheld) stated that the driver sped away and managed to flee after sensing danger, despite the fact that the driver's master sustained bullet wounds.

According to the witness, the kidnappers sped away with their three victims out of concern that bystanders might sound the alarm. Upon observing that one of the girls, who had travelled from London for the Christmas holiday, was lifeless from gunshot wounds, they forcibly removed her from the vehicle.

Subsequent inquiry unveiled that the abductors had contacted a family member of one of the captives and issued a ransom demand of N50 million.

As of the submission of this report, the primary target was reportedly receiving treatment in one of the institutions located in Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State.