Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), has been thrown into mourning and anxiety following the abduction of a 17-year-old 100-level Microbiology student, Miss Mary Ezinwayi Uzoma. The young student, a wife and aspiring microbiologist, was kidnapped by suspected armed herdsmen along the FUTO/Ihiagwa Road in the Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State. In a brutal twist of fate that has sent shockwaves through the academic community, a commercial motorcyclist, identified simply as Emmanuel, who was conveying her to school, was shot dead by the assailants during the attack on April 24, 2026.
The incident occurred as Mary was returning to campus, placing her directly in the path of the heavily armed gunmen. A grieving relative, who identified himself as Ibenyenwa, confirmed the harrowing details in a video message that has since circulated widely, explaining that the victim is not only a student but also the wife of his younger brother. "She was on her way to school when the ugly incident occurred. She was kidnapped by herdsmen operating on the Ihiagwa-Amaeze road," Ibenyenwa said, his voice heavy with anguish, adding that the slain motorcyclist who lost his life in the line of duty was a native of Ihiagwa.
The Imo State Police Command confirmed the abduction on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, stating that it has launched a coordinated search and rescue operation. Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Henry Okoye, disclosed in a press release that the Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Garba Bosso, has ordered the Anti-Kidnapping Unit to take over the case. "Upon receipt of the report, operatives of the command, in synergy with local vigilantes, were promptly mobilized to the scene, where adjoining bushes and surrounding areas were immediately subjected to intensive search operations, as part of ongoing efforts to locate the victim," Okoye said.
The socio-cultural organization Nzuko Owere General Assembly has condemned the attack, describing it as part of a disturbing trend turning local roads into "death traps." In a statement signed by its National President, Hon. Dan Ikpeazu, the group decried the frequent ambushes on rural routes, noting that residents, farmers, traders, and students are increasingly exposed to such deadly attacks with impunity. "This barbaric act is one killing too many. The lives of our people can no longer be treated as expendable," the statement read. The group has called for urgent action from security agencies, intensified surveillance by vigilantes, and full enforcement of anti-open grazing laws across the South East.
Meanwhile, the university community remains on edge, with fears mounting for the safety of other off-campus students who must traverse the dangerous routes daily. The police, however, have assured the public of their commitment to safety, reinforcing security deployment across the FUTO axis. As the search intensified, Okoye urged members of the public with useful information to report it at the nearest police station or by contacting the special emergency line: 0803 477 3600.
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