Former Enugu SSG allegedly kidnapped

A former Secretary to Enugu State Government, Dr. Dan Shere, was reportedly kidnapped in Enugu, yesterday.

But the police, who confirmed an incident of kidnap in the area, said it could not readily tell identities of victims.

Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Daniel Ndukwe, stated: “I am aware there was an incident of kidnap, but I don’t have report of the former SSG being involved.”

It was gathered that the former SSG was among other commuters kidnapped along the Enugu-Ugwuogo Nike-Nsukka Road.

Shere, a medical doctor, served the administration of former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani.

A source said that the Enugu politician was travelling to Nsukka for a meeting when gunmen attacked him alongside other travellers.

One of the survivors, who shared video of the attack, said the gunmen were about eight in number.

“They shot severally at our vehicle; one of us was hit by the bullets. But our driver managed to move on. We succeeded in taking the victim to the hospital,” he narrated while thanking God for saving him and four others.

MEANWHILE, it was gathered that the kidnappers, who are said to be herdsmen, have increased their ransom demand on those they earlier abducted on Sunday.

“They earlier demanded N2 million per victim, but have now increased it to N30 million. They search the phones of victims to know their status,” the source said.

Returning students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, who were abducted on Sunday, are also yet to be freed.

Yesterday, the state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and the General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Enugu, visited the area. The idea was to assure residents and users of the road that their safety is guaranteed.