UMUAHIA — A wave of terror swept through the quiet outskirts of the Abia State capital on Monday night, February 16, 2026, as suspected Fulani herdsmen reportedly blocked a major road in the Olokoro-Amakama axis, kidnapping an entire family heading home.
The incident, which occurred near the Pacesetter FM area in Umuahia South Local Government, has triggered a frantic “security red alert” across the state, with residents taking to social media to warn loved ones: “Don’t move alone. Watch where you go.”
The “Mkpuke” Ambush
According to eyewitness accounts and a viral distress call from a local resident, the armed group emerged from the darkness at Mkpuke Amakama, forced a vehicle to a halt, and marched the occupants—a father, mother, and their children—into the thick surrounding forest.
“It happened last night. Fulani herdsmen have entered Olokoro and Umuahia,” a distraught resident cried out in a voice note that has since gone viral. “They blocked the road and took a whole family. Please, Governor Alex Otti, sir, come to our rescue. We are no longer safe in our own homes.”
A Night of Two Tales
While the family at Mkpuke remains missing, a second attempted abduction in nearby Avodim Ubakala on the same night ended differently. Local vigilantes and security guards reportedly intercepted a similar ambush, successfully rescuing another family before they could be dragged into the bush.
The proximity of these two attacks suggests a coordinated effort by criminal elements to establish a “kidnap corridor” in the forests surrounding the state capital.
“Solar Lights are Not Enough” — Nigerians Blast Security Failures
Despite Governor Alex Otti’s widely praised infrastructure drive and the launch of the “Operation Crush” task force, Abia residents and Nigerians across the country have reacted with sharp criticism toward the current security gaps.
- “Peripheral Neglect”:Â Critics argue that while the city center of Umuahia is being transformed with solar streetlights, the rural feeder roads where these kidnappings occur remain in total darkness. “Criminals don’t operate under the bright lights of the Government House; they operate in the shadows of Olokoro and Ubakala,” one resident noted.
- “The Border Crisis”:Â Nigerians on social media have blasted the federal security agencies for allowing armed herder groups to migrate freely through the South East. “If they can block a road so close to the state capital, it means our intelligence gathering has failed,” a popular commentator on X (formerly Twitter) argued.
- “Reactionary, Not Proactive”:Â Some residents expressed frustration that security forces often arrive only after the victims have been taken. “We need a permanent military presence in these forests, not just patrols after the damage is done,” a community leader in Umuahia South lamented.
The Governor’s “Zero Tolerance” Test
Governor Otti has historically taken a hardline stance against kidnapping, previously ordering the demolition of buildings linked to criminal hideouts. However, this direct “roadblock” challenge in the heart of Umuahia South represents a major test of his administration’s ability to protect the capital.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the Abia State Police Command has deployed a tactical team to the Amakama forests, but no official confirmation of the family’s rescue has been released.
