A disturbing scene of chaos unfolded on Friday evening along the Ugwuogo Nike–Opi–Nsukka highway in Enugu State, as suspected kidnappers reportedly ambushed motorists and commuters, leaving the major route in total lockdown.
A viral video circulating on social media, shared by an X (formerly Twitter) user identified as Chuks, captured the terrifying moments of the attack. The post was captioned:
“Kidn@ppers were operating along Ugwuogo Nike by Opi, Nsukka, Enugu State at exactly 7 PM this evening. Police officers on duty reportedly fled for their lives until the Nigerian Army arrived at the scene.”
The two-minute footage, recorded by a trapped traveler, showed vehicles abruptly halted on the busy road as terrified passengers scrambled for safety. The narrator, speaking in panic, said:
“Happening live, Nsukka road. Road don block. East is no more safe. Nsukka here. Everywhere is blocked. Happening now, live, kidnappers. We are stuck here because of kidnappers. Kidnappers. God help your people.”
Eyewitness accounts suggest that the attackers operated freely for several minutes before the arrival of the Nigerian Army, while police officers stationed along the route allegedly fled the scene. The incident reportedly caused a standstill on the ever-busy highway, which serves as a critical link between Nsukka city and northern parts of Enugu State.
This latest security scare comes amid rising tension in the state following a deadly clash earlier in the week at the New Artisan Market in Enugu North Local Government Area.
As Chronicles Reporters earlier gathered, at least three traders of Hausa descent were killed in the violent confrontation on Tuesday, leaving several others critically injured.
Eyewitnesses said the unrest erupted after some traders accused one of their colleagues of armed robbery and attempted to lynch him.
“From what we understand, one Hausa trader was identified as robbing people every night. So on Tuesday, some fellow Hausa traders at the New Artisan Market stormed his house and dragged him out,” Yusuf Usman, an eyewitness, told Chronicles Reporters.
The situation quickly spiraled out of control when another faction of traders attempted to rescue the accused, sparking a violent retaliation that resulted in two additional deaths and multiple injuries.
The Enugu State Police Command is yet to issue an official statement regarding both the Ugwuogo Nike kidnapping incident and the Artisan Market killings, as fear and uncertainty continue to grip residents of the state.
— Chronicles Reporters, Enugu Bureau