Commuters along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway were thrown into panic on Saturday evening after gunmen attacked vehicles and abducted several passengers near a busy police checkpoint.

Naija News reports that the incident took place around the “New Spare Parts” area by Owa Express, just a few metres from the MOPU Junction.

The attack occurred between 6:00 PM and 6:30 PM, when motorists were returning from work.

Witnesses said the gunmen stopped vehicles on the road and forced passengers into nearby bushes, despite the presence of a Highway Safe Road Police Squad checkpoint close to the area.

“Kidnappers came to Enugu-Onitsha Road, by New Spare Parts, and by Owa Express before MOPU Junction. They kidnapped some people on Saturday evening around 6 pm or after 6 pm, being February 7, 2026,” the source told Sahara Reporters.

Some drivers abandoned their cars in a bid to escape the attackers.

The area has a long history of criminal activities, even though security forces maintain checkpoints along the route.

The “New Spare Parts” area is a key transit point for traders and travelers moving between Onitsha and Enugu.

The attack came amid a rise in kidnapping incidents along the expressway in recent months, despite the state government deploying new surveillance drones to monitor the roads.