Seven passengers travelling in a Toyota Sienna bus were abducted by gunmen on Saturday evening along the Obbo-Aiyegunle/Osi Road in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State....READ ORIGINAL & FULL CONTENT FROM SOURCE | READ ORIGINAL & FULL CONTENT FROM SOURCE...
The victims were en route from Abuja to Offa when they were ambushed by the armed attackers between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Sources confirmed that the abductors, suspected to be kidnappers, spared three children who were travelling with their parents.
The eldest of the children later reported the incident to the management of Olumoh Express, the transport company the victims boarded in Offa.
The secretary of the company, Mr. Mukaila Ogunlade, confirmed the abduction, noting that the vehicle initially left the park with five passengers.
“The oldest of the children told us that two more people joined the bus along the way. Presently, we are looking for seven people,” he stated.
The Kwara State Police Command also confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Sunday by its spokesperson, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi.
“Armed hoodlums numbering about eight reportedly intercepted a Sienna bus with registration number FFA 50XD and forcefully abducted seven occupants, including the driver,” the statement read.
Police operatives, in collaboration with local vigilantes, responded swiftly and recovered the vehicle at the nearest police post.
During a search of the surrounding bush area, three children aged between two and twelve years were found and safely rescued.
“One of the children was able to provide the police with detailed information about her guardian. The children have since been reunited with their relatives,” the statement added.
The command said it has intensified efforts through discreet investigation, intelligence gathering, and continuous bush combing operations to locate the kidnappers and ensure the safe rescue of the remaining victims.
Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, reassured residents of the command’s commitment to public safety and urged anyone with useful information to contact the police through the established channels.