KEY POINTS
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Gunmen abducted a mother and her three sons while harvesting cassava in Enugu State.
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Community leaders have urged security agencies to intensify rescue efforts.
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Uzo-Uwani council chairman says efforts are underway to secure the family’s release.
A mother and her three sons have been abducted by suspected kidnappers while harvesting cassava on their family farmland in Ugbene Ajima, Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The victims were identified as Mrs Bridget Okey and her three sons, Chukwubuike Okeh, 14; Chukwuemeka Okeh; and Chijioke Okeh.
The incident reportedly occurred on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at Nwiyi Ivuruge, along the route leading to Umualogo Village in Nkpologu community, which shares a boundary with Ugbene Ajima.
Reports indicate that the family had gone to their farmland to harvest cassava when the suspected kidnappers seized them and took them away to an undisclosed location.
Community Leader Appeals for Urgent Intervention
A community leader, Sam Otti, who holds the traditional title of Ikeoha Ugbene, has called on the Enugu State Government and security agencies to intensify efforts to secure the victims’ release.
Otti said the abduction had been reported to local vigilantes, forest guards and the police.
He urged the state government, Uzo-Uwani Local Government Council, the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant security agencies to mobilise the necessary resources to locate the abductors and rescue the family.
He expressed particular concern over the abduction of children, warning that criminal groups were increasingly exposing rural residents to danger in places where they should be able to carry out their daily activities safely.
Otti said the family must not be abandoned and called for every possible effort to ensure that the victims returned home alive and unharmed.
Fears Grow Over Security in Rural Communities
The community leader also raised concerns about the growing vulnerability of farmers and other residents in rural communities.
He warned that farmlands were increasingly becoming unsafe for agricultural activities, potentially discouraging residents from accessing the land they depend on for their livelihoods.
Otti called on authorities to strengthen security around rural settlements and farming areas, stressing that children should not have to fear accompanying their parents to farms.
The incident has renewed concerns about the spread of kidnapping beyond major towns and into farming communities across the country.
Council Chairman Visits Abduction Scene
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, Barrister Chijioke Ezugwu, visited the scene of the incident on Saturday.
During the visit, Ezugwu assured residents that efforts were being mobilised to rescue the abducted mother and her three sons.
However, the report did not provide details of any arrests, ransom demands or confirmed contact with the abductors.
The immediate priority remains locating the family and securing their safe release.
