Three employees of the First City Monument Bank (FCMB) branch in Enugu State have been abducted by some gunmen.
The three female employees, two of whom were pregnant, were reportedly kidnapped on Wednesday in the area around the University of Nigeria Enugu Campus (UNEC).
In the meantime, the FCMB paused banking activities on Wednesday in solidarity while looking for its female personnel.
According to eyewitness sources, the three women, who were all front desk employees, finished their shift for the day at the Presidential Road Branch in Nkpokiti at around seven o’clock. They were travelling in a car together when there was an unexpected crash.
The women got out of their car to confront the alleged offender when another car intentionally struck them from behind. But unbeknownst to them, the crash was a deliberate trap created by the abductors to profit from the circumstance.
As soon as the women got out of their car, gunmen sprang from the shadows and attacked the unprepared victims. The three female bank employees were then taken hostage by the assailants, with little option of escape.
The fact that one of the kidnapped women is reportedly heavily pregnant raises even more alarms about an already dangerous situation.
Law enforcement authorities and security officers were quickly mobilised to start a search operation as word of the kidnapping spread.
The whereabouts of the kidnapped bank employees are still a mystery as of the publication of this story, though. Authorities have also stated that they have not heard from the kidnappers, and they have not been able to get in touch with the victims through phone, as their numbers appear to be switched off.
In order to ensure the safe return of its employees, the management of FCMB has reassured the public that they are actively collaborating with law enforcement authorities and provide all necessary assistance.
Additionally, they have offered their sincere condolences to the families of the abducted women during this trying time.
According to police officials, the public should be attentive and disclose any information that may help the authorities in solving the kidnapping and ensuring the victims’ safe return while the investigation into this horrific incident progresses.
As of the time this story was filed, reporters’ attempts to reach DSP Daniel Ndukwe, the command’s spokesman, for comment from the Enugu State Police Command were unsuccessful.