By Our Correspondent
Panic and uncertainty have enveloped parts of Anambra State following the reported abduction of a truck driver along the busy Awka-Onitsha Road in the early hours of Sunday, February 12, 2023.
The victim, identified as Emmanuel Ejike Oliver, was said to be on his way to work when armed men intercepted his vehicle in a daring operation that left eyewitnesses and road users terrified.
According to accounts gathered by our correspondent, the assailants arrived in a Mercedes-Benz GLK 350 and reportedly blocked the driver’s path before forcefully dragging him out of his vehicle. Witnesses claimed that the attackers, numbering about six and armed with sophisticated weapons, blindfolded the victim after allegedly striking him on the forehead with the butt of a gun.
The shocking incident reportedly unfolded within minutes, causing panic among commuters who watched helplessly as the gunmen whisked the driver away to an unknown destination.
Since the abduction, family members and associates of the victim have been gripped by fear and anxiety as his whereabouts remain unknown. Efforts to establish contact with him have reportedly proved unsuccessful, heightening concerns over his safety.
Documents recovered after the incident reportedly revealed that the victim’s driver’s licence belongs to Emmanuel Ejike Oliver, whose address is listed as No. 6 Aguiyi Street, Awka.
The incident has once again raised serious concerns about security along major highways in the South-East, with residents and travellers calling for intensified security patrols and urgent intervention by law enforcement agencies to stem the tide of violent crimes on the roads.
As of the time of filing this report, no official statement had been issued regarding the circumstances surrounding the abduction, while concerned residents continue to hope and pray for the safe return of the missing driver whose whereabouts is still unknown till now.
The incident has left many questions unanswered about safety of commuters on the roads, as fear and apprehension continue to spread among motorists who ply the Awka-Onitsha corridor.
