Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State — Unknown gunmen kidnapped one of the female students of the Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku. One woman’s life was sent into eternity while she was caught in the maze of the confused scenario as some of the random bullets hit and killed her during the kidnapping commotion. This took place along Polytechnic Road in Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State on Wednesday late at night.

The gunmen, suspected to be part of a five-man gang, had earlier attacked a male individual traveling with the female student in a Lexus 330. Sources close to the incident explained that the male occupant of the car narrowly escaped the attackers by bolting from the car and fleeing into the nearby bush. However, the female student, who sat on the driver’s side, was not as fortunate, as she was immediately whisked away by the hoodlums.

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The attackers opened fire indiscriminately at the vehicle during the attack, sending people scampering for their lives. A source on the ground described the scene as “like a war zone,” with people fleeing in all directions in a bid to avoid the barrage of gunfire.

“The man was driving along the Polytechnic road when the group of about five men blocked his vehicle and began shooting,” one eyewitness explained. “The man managed to open the door and run into the bush, but the girl could not escape. The gunmen abducted her after shooting at the vehicle.”

As of Thursday afternoon, the gunmen reportedly reached out to the family of the kidnapped student, demanding a ransom of N10 million for her release.

In one of those twists of fate, a stray bullet fired in the mayhem struck and killed a woman. The woman, identified as a shop owner, was reportedly standing near the power line when gunfire erupted. Another stray bullet hit a man and injured him in the leg.

According to an eyewitness close to the incident: “A stray bullet hit a woman, a small shop owner, who died on the spot, while another was shot in the leg, and fortunately survived. It was terrifying for them all who present around.”

Abduction and fatal shooting was confirmed by the local vigilante group in Ogwashi-Uku. Chairman of the Ogwashi-Uku Vigilante Group, Hery Chukwuka, said the Lexus 330 vehicle used in the abduction was abandoned by the kidnappers before it was recovered by the police.

The vehicle was recovered and parked at the Ogwashi-Uku Police Station,” Chukwuka said, further condemning the rising tide of violence and criminality in the area.

The Delta State Police Command spokesperson, Bright Edafe, in a statement to the press, confirmed an attempted kidnapping, though he was unable to verify details of the student’s abduction. “There was an attempt at kidnapping in which the man miraculously escaped but left his car behind,” said Edafe. “We recovered the vehicle; we are now trying to get in contact with the man but his phone is off. The full details, we will when we get in contact with him.”

The police are still working on it and promised to leave no stone unturned until the kidnapped student is traced and rescued. At the latest news update, no arrest has been made, and the perpetrators have not been discovered yet.

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The incident has caused shock waves within the community, with residents demanding more security to tackle the growing threat posed by armed criminal groups in the area. Locals are worried about the safety of students at Delta State Polytechnic, given that this is not the first time violence has been reported near the institution.

The kidnapping and killing from a stray bullet serve as that gloomy pointer that gives witness to the continuous struggles which the communities of Delta State face to overcome their growing insecurity. As investigations are on, so much is still to be discovered; palpable fear has engulfed the residents and students of Ogwashi-Uku.

The family of the kidnapped student could not immediately be reached for comment. Community leaders have meanwhile called on authorities to increase their efforts in arresting the perpetrators and bringing them to justice.

With the investigation still ongoing, residents remain on edge, praying that the young woman is returned safely and justice is served regarding the life that was lost. The cry for a more effective police presence in the area is increasing while the community comes to terms with the escalating violence that has shaken the once-peaceful Ogwashi-Uku town.

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