Fear and Tears in Imo as Gunmen Abduct 35-Year-Old Woman, Demand N2 Million Ransom

 

Tragedy has struck a peaceful Nigerian family as gunmen have reportedly kidnapped a 35-year-old woman, Aluchie Jennifer, in Imo State, sending shockwaves across her community and beyond. The heart-wrenching incident has left her loved ones terrified and pleading for help, as her abductors are demanding a N2 million ransom for her release.

Jennifer, who is based in Asaba, the capital of Delta State, was kidnapped on Saturday, May 11, 2025, while she was travelling to her ancestral hometown—Umuhu Enyiogwugwu, located in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State. She had embarked on the journey to spend time with family members during the weekend.

Her trip began from Delta State to Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, where she first stopped to visit relatives. According to family sources, Jennifer reached Port Harcourt safely without any issues. However, her journey took a dark turn after she left Port Harcourt for her village in Imo State. Somewhere along the route, she was intercepted and abducted by unknown gunmen.

The first sign that something was terribly wrong came in the early hours of Sunday. Her elder sister, Akus Amara, received a disturbing message at around 3:00 a.m. The message included a shocking photo of Jennifer, who appeared half-naked and blindfolded, sitting helplessly in what seemed like a bushy and remote area. Attached to the image was a chilling and threatening note from the kidnappers that read:

“You don’t want to pay that money, you think we are playing a game.”

The trauma didn’t end there. Moments after the photo was sent, a voice note followed. In it, Jennifer could be heard crying and begging for help:

“Mama, they’ve kidnapped me, they kidnapped me yesterday night, and they’re asking for ransom.”

Amara revealed that during the recording, the abductors could be heard beating her sister, making the entire situation even more terrifying.

“I couldn’t hold myself,” Amara told NaijaRush. “The way she was crying… the way she was talking… It broke my heart. And then they hit her again while she was recording. I was just crying.”

The family’s pain intensified when Amara tried to contact Jennifer’s WhatsApp number. Rather than getting answers, she received more disturbing threats and graphic images. She said:

“They sent me another photo of her naked. I was confused and scared.”

Determined to save her sister, Amara attempted to negotiate with the abductors. She pleaded with them and offered N500,000, explaining that it was all she could afford at that moment due to tight financial conditions. But her plea was dismissed without mercy.

"They told me I was joking and immediately ended the call,” she recounted.

Meanwhile, Jennifer’s young son—who had seen her last when she left for Port Harcourt at about 3:00 p.m. on Saturday—confirmed that she reached Port Harcourt safely. However, she went missing shortly after leaving for her hometown.

Family members also revealed that Jennifer had recently returned from Lagos, where she had gone to handle some personal matters. Upon returning to Asaba, she had started a small food business in hopes of supporting her family. Her trip to Umuhu Enyiogwugwu was meant to be a short weekend visit to see her sister’s children.

But the situation has only grown more dangerous. In a later voice note reportedly sent by Jennifer, she revealed even more horrifying details. According to her, the gunmen had already murdered two people in front of her, using their deaths as a warning to pressure her family into paying the ransom.

She begged for her life, pleading with her family to find a way to meet the kidnappers’ demands.

“Mama, they killed two people already... please save me,” she was heard saying.

To make things worse, the kidnappers also threatened Amara, warning her to comply with their instructions or face the possibility of losing her sister forever.

As of the time this report was published, all communication between the kidnappers and the family has been taking place via Jennifer’s WhatsApp number. The family is still in contact with the abductors, but Jennifer’s exact location remains unknown.

The family is now calling on security agencies, local authorities, community leaders, and the general public to assist in rescuing Jennifer and ensuring her safe return.

This heartbreaking story is yet another reminder of the growing insecurity in many parts of Nigeria, especially along inter-state travel routes. The family’s ordeal highlights how everyday Nigerians—especially women—can become victims of violence even while doing something as ordinary as travelling to visit loved ones.

Anyone with useful information or connections that may help in locating and rescuing Aluchie Jennifer is urged to come forward. Her family remains in desperate need of support—both financially and emotionally—as they pray for her safe return.