By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Gunmen in Enugu have kidnapped an official of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Emeason Chima.
Chima, who is attached to RS4.211, Ugbokolo unit of the agency, was kidnapped on Saturday around Maduka University in Nsukka, Enugu State.
The gunmen are demanding N50 million ransom to release the victim, a senior FRSC official in the state revealed.
The official who wasn’t authorised to speak to journalists said Chima was driving alone in his car when he was attacked and abducted.
Meanwhile, an internal memo within the agency confirmed that the gunmen – using the officer’s phone -demanded for a ransom of N50 million.
“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 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 50million ransom has been made.
“Further details will be made available as events unfolds. This is forwarded for your information and further guide sir.”
Security has deteriorated in the South-East part of the country with frequent attacks by non-state actors in recent times.
The gunmen have carried out a series of abductions, collected huge ransoms and in some occasions killed their victims.
Aside from government officials and facilities, military and police personnel and others have been targets of attacks by these gunmen in the region.
The Nigerian government has accused pro-Biafra group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the region.
But the group has repeatedly denied its involvement in the attacks.