A yet-to-be-identified female student of Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, has reportedly been kidnapped by unknown gunmen, while a stray bullet claimed the life of a woman in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State.
According to sources, the Higher National Diploma student was abducted on Wednesday night along the polytechnic road after hoodlums failed to capture a male target she was with at the time.
A community member, who spoke on condition of anonymity for safety reasons, narrated the incident, “The man was driving along the polytechnic road when a group of about five armed men blocked his vehicle and opened fire. He managed to open the door and flee into the bush.
“But the girl at the driver’s side could not escape as the man did, and the hoodlums carried her away after raining bullets on the vehicle. It was like a war zone last night in Ogwashi-Uku, and people were running for safety. As of this afternoon, they demanded N10 million ransom,” the source revealed.
Another witness confirmed that a stray bullet struck a woman who owned a shop under the power line, killing her instantly, while a man was also hit in the leg.
“During the shooting, a stray bullet killed a woman who owns a shop under the power line, and one man was also hit by a bullet in the leg before they abducted the girl,” the source added.
The Chairman of the Ogwashi-Uku vigilante group, Mr. Henry Chukwuka, confirmed the incident, disclosing that the Lexus 330 involved in the attack has been taken to Ogwashi-Uku Police Station.
Meanwhile, the Delta State Police Command spokesperson, Bright Edafe, said there was an attempted kidnapping but could not confirm the student’s abduction.
“There was an attempted kidnapping, and the man ran away, abandoning his car. We have recovered the car at the police station,” Edafe stated.
“We have been calling the man’s number, but it’s switched off. If we can reach him, he will be able to explain what happened,” he added.
