In a harrowing act of violence, suspected Fulani herdsmen have brutally executed a kidnapped farmer, Godwin Anuka, in the presence of his wife and two young children in Ubulu-Uku, Delta State. The tragic incident has sent shockwaves through the community, underscoring the alarming rise of kidnappings in the region.
The shocking revelation was made by Harrison Gwamnishu, the Senior Special Assistant on Civil Society and Youth Mobilisation to the Delta State Governor, in a Facebook post on Wednesday. Gwamnishu detailed how the kidnappers initially abducted two individuals on March 23 and held them hostage deep within the forest while negotiating ransom demands.
However, in a cruel twist of fate, the armed assailants stumbled upon Anuka and his family working on their farm. Without hesitation, they seized them, escalating the hostage situation and demanding an even larger ransom.
According to Gwamnishu, the same gang of kidnappers had been orchestrating a wave of terror across multiple communities.
“They kidnapped Chibueze from Ogwashi-Uku, trekked to Ubulu-Uku, and abducted Mr. Afam. They then crossed the Isah Ogwashi/Ubulu-Uku road to Power Line and proceeded along a farm road toward Ani-Uje Ubulu-Uku, where they set up camp for days, demanding ransom,” he stated. “It was in this hideout that they spotted Mr. Godwin Anuka and his family, taking them captive.”
Local authorities, including the Ubulu-Uku Central Vigilante team and the Nigerian Army, mobilized by Aniocha South Local Government Chairman Hon. Pastor Jude Chukwunwike and the Ubulu-Uku Palace, launched an operation to rescue the captives.
After prolonged negotiations and the payment of a substantial ransom, the kidnappers released Chibueze, Mr. Afam, and Anuka’s wife and children. However, the nightmare did not end there—Anuka had already been executed in cold blood before his family’s eyes.
“The kidnappers released some hostages after collecting ransom, but we were devastated to learn that Mr. Godwin had been shot dead right inside the farm, in front of his helpless wife and children,” Gwamnishu wrote in his post.
Efforts to obtain an official response from Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, proved futile, as calls and messages to his line went unanswered at the time of filing this report.
The gruesome killing of Anuka is not an isolated case. On March 28, PUNCH Metro reported that Gwamnishu had raised the alarm over the growing menace of kidnappings in parts of Delta State, allegedly perpetrated by suspected Fulani herdsmen. He referenced the tragic fate of a female land agent, Esther Osaze, whose lifeless body was discovered days after her abduction.
The relentless cycle of abductions and killings has left many families in distress, as some victims remain in captivity due to their families’ inability to meet ransom demands.
The cold-blooded execution of Anuka in front of his children serves as a grim reminder of the urgent need for stronger security measures in Delta State. As fear grips residents, the demand for decisive government action to curb these heinous crimes grows louder.
PIONEER NEWS 