South Africa–based businessman escapes Enugu kidnappers after ₦40m ransom demand, lands in Anambra

By Our Correspondent

A South Africa–based Nigerian businessman who was abducted by suspected kidnappers in Enugu State has escaped from their den and landed in Anambra State, where he was rescued by a police-led joint security team.
The Anambra State Police Command confirmed the development in a statement issued on Friday, January 16, 2026, by its Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga.
According to the statement, the rescue occurred in the early hours of Thursday, January 15, 2026, during a routine visibility patrol by police-led joint security operatives attached to the Forward Operating Base (FOB), Aguata.
The operatives were patrolling the Isulo axis of Orumba South Local Government Area when they encountered and successfully rescued the victim.
The businessman, identified as a Nigerian citizen and a native of Obinagu–Isikweachi in Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State, disclosed that he is currently based in South Africa. He said he was abducted on January 1, 2026, in the evening, from his hometown by a gang of six armed men who allegedly concealed their identities with masks.
He further revealed that the kidnappers demanded a ransom of ₦40 million from his wife and relatives. However, he managed to escape from the kidnappers’ den, leading to his eventual rescue by the joint security operatives in Anambra State.
Following the rescue, the victim was debriefed by security operatives and has since been reunited with his family.
Meanwhile, the police said operatives are working with actionable intelligence provided by the victim to locate and dismantle the criminal hideout in the area and arrest those responsible for the abduction.
The Anambra State Police Command reiterated its commitment to proactive policing and assured residents that efforts to sustain security across the state would continue, adding that further developments would be communicated in due course.