By Abubakar Yunusa
Several journalists traveling to cover the Super Eagles’ match against Libya in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, were abducted by gunmen on Wednesday.
The incident occurred along the Isseke-Orlu Road in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, as the reporters journeyed from Lagos to Uyo for the scheduled football match.
Sources indicated that the attackers flagged down the bus transporting the journalists and forced them into a nearby bush.
While the exact number of abducted journalists remains unclear, reports suggest that at least 10 individuals were taken during the ambush.
The police spokesperson for Anambra State, Superintendent Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the attack but provided limited details at the time.
He stated that a joint security team had been dispatched to the area to track down the gunmen and secure the release of the victims.
An hour after confirming the abduction, Mr. Ikenga reported that six of the kidnapped journalists had been rescued by the security team.
Efforts are ongoing to locate the remaining abducted journalist. The identities of those rescued have not yet been disclosed.
The abduction is the latest in a series of security incidents that have plagued Anambra State and the wider southeast region of Nigeria.
Attacks targeting security personnel, government officials, and infrastructure have increased in recent months, raising concerns about the region’s deteriorating security situation.
The Nigerian government has accused the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a group advocating for an independent Biafran state, of orchestrating many of the violent attacks. However, IPOB has consistently denied any involvement in these incidents.
Meanwhile,the Super Eagles’ match against Libya is still scheduled to take place on Friday in Uyo, despite the incident.