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.
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.