Tension has gripped Amata Akpoha community in Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State following the suspected abduction of four farmers by armed men believed to be from a neighbouring community.

The Incident reportedly occurred in the early hours of July 23 while villagers were working in their rice farms. According to eyewitnesses, a group of armed individuals clad in black clothing and face masks stormed the farmland, firing into the air and causing panic.

While many managed to flee, four individuals – Otuu Enya, Daniel Ezeh, Okoh Oyoh, and Comfort Igwe – have not been seen since and are feared to have been abducted by the invaders, who are suspected to be from Ezeke Amasiri community.

In response, local authorities have launched a search and deployed tactical units to comb the area in a bid to locate the missing persons and apprehend the attackers.

Community leaders have appealed for calm while investigations and search efforts continue. (Zagazola, excluding headline)