ARMED men suspected to be kidnappers have abducted 12 passengers traveling in a Toyota bus along the Okene–Auchi Road in Kogi State, sparking fresh concerns over insecurity on one of Nigeria’s busiest highways.
News Point Nigeria reports that the incident occurred on Friday when the bus, reportedly belonging to Big Joe Ventures Ltd, ran into an ambush mounted by the assailants. The vehicle, marked Edo FUG 13 XY, was on its way from Abuja to Benin, Edo State, when it was intercepted around noon.
Local sources revealed that among the abducted passengers were newly-called-to-bar lawyers, who were returning to Benin after participating in their official call-to-bar ceremony in Abuja.
Eyewitnesses recounted that the gunmen, operating in large numbers, ordered all passengers out of the bus and marched them into the surrounding bush.
Reports from the area confirmed that security operatives, including police, military, and vigilante groups, quickly stormed the scene in a bid to rescue the victims and track down the abductors.
Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Aya, who confirmed the incident in a statement to News Point Nigeria, said the attackers initially succeeded in taking away all 12 passengers.
However, a counter-operation led by CSP Nasir Muhammad, Divisional Police Officer of Okene Division, with combined forces, rescued eight victims, including the driver, leaving four still in captivity.
Aya said: “Kidnappers attacked a Big Joe Ventures Ltd Toyota Hiace commuter Bus (Edo FUG 13 XY) along Okene–Auchi road. During the incident, the kidnappers abducted all the 12 passengers commuting from Abuja to Benin in Edo State.
“Subsequently, the DPO Okene Div, CSP Nasir Muhammad, immediately mobilized police personnel in conjunction with military and vigilante in pursuit of the kidnappers.
“In the process, 8 victims including the driver were rescued. Efforts are still underway to rescue the remaining 4 victims and ensure the arrest of the perpetrators.”
Security forces have assured the public that operations are ongoing to rescue the remaining victims unhurt and to bring the criminals to justice.
