February 8, 2026 l Dalena Reporters
Commuters travelling along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway were thrown into panic on Saturday evening after armed gunmen ambushed vehicles and abducted multiple passengers near a police checkpoint, eyewitnesses and local security sources reported.
The incident occurred at approximately 6 p.m. on the busy highway stretch around the “New Spare Parts” area near Owa Express and the MOPU Junction, just a few metres from a Highway Safe Road Police Squad checkpoint, indicating a brazen attack despite an official security presence.
According to eyewitnesses, the assailants blocked traffic and forced travellers from their vehicles before driving or leading them into nearby bushland, where the abductees were taken. Some reports from social media groups and local observers suggested that dozens of commuters may have been seized in the assault, although formal confirmation of the number of victims was not immediately available at the time of reporting.
Terrified motorists reportedly abandoned vehicles and fled for safety as gunmen moved along the expressway, a major commercial route linking southeastern and southwestern Nigeria. Frustration among regular travellers has grown over recurring reports of criminal activity along this corridor, even in areas with police and military checkpoints.
Residents and frequent commuters have urged state authorities and federal security agencies to intensify patrols and protective measures on the expressway, particularly during evening hours, noting that the route has become a preferred target for kidnappers and armed gangs in recent months.
Attempts to contact the Police Public Relations Officer for the Enugu State Command for immediate comment were not successful at the time of filing this report.