A man named Godwin Anuka, who was kidnapped by suspected Fulani herders along with his wife and two children in the Ubulu-Uku area of Delta State, has been killed in front of his family.
Harrison Gwamnishu, the Senior Special Assistant on Civil Society and Youth Mobilization to the Delta State Governor, shared the news in a Facebook post on Wednesday. Gwamnishu explained that the kidnappers initially abducted two people on March 23, taking them into the bush and demanding ransom. While hiding, the kidnappers saw Anuka and his family working on their farm, and they proceeded to abduct them as well.
Gwamnishu further revealed that the kidnappers, who had previously taken other victims from nearby towns, camped in the bush and started demanding ransom for the Anuka family. Despite efforts by the local vigilante group and the Nigerian Army to rescue them, a ransom was eventually paid. However, it was confirmed that Anuka was shot and killed in the presence of his wife and children.
The authorities had yet to respond to inquiries from the press at the time of this report. Gwamnishu had previously spoken out about the increasing kidnappings in the state, some of which were allegedly carried out by Fulani herders.