Gunmen abduct passengers on 18-seater bus in Edo

Fear has gripped communities in Edo State following the abduction of passengers travelling in an 18-seater bus by suspected kidnappers.

The incident reportedly occurred along the Sobe-Benin Road in Owan West Local Government Area on Thursday last week. According to eyewitness accounts, the bus was waylaid by armed men who forced passengers into the forest.

Though the exact number of victims has not been confirmed, sources disclosed that some of those abducted were students, raising further concerns over the growing insecurity in the region.

The kidnappers, who were said to have contacted the family of the victims, are demanding N15 million ransom from each of the victims to effect their release.

A source who spoke on condition of anonymity said the gunmen who were hiding on sighting the vehicle reportedly emerged from the bush, shot the driver and kidnapped the passengers into the bush.

According to him, the gunmen were said to have shot the driver. This, however, forced the vehicle to a halt.

“The kidnappers, after injuring the driver, kidnapped the occupants of the vehicle into the bush, leaving the driver in a pool of his blood”, he said.

He, however, said that people disclosed that it was Verydarkman, VDM, a social media influencer, who rescued the driver and took him to the hospital for medical attention.

(DailyPost)