Newly Called To Bar Lawyers, Other Passengers Abducted In Kogi Bus Attack
Armed men suspected to be kidnappers have reportedly abducted 12 passengers of a Toyota bus, along Okene-Auchi road in Kogi State.
According to report, the incident occurred on Friday when the passengers, who were returning from Abuja to Benin, Edo State, ran into an ambush mounted by their abductors.
Among the abducted passengers were newly called-to-bar lawyers, returning to Benin after a ceremony in Abuja.
An eyewitness reported that the abductors whisked all the passengers to the bush when the incident happened around noon.
Report from the area noted that security operatives stormed the scene of the incident, in an attempt to rescue the victims and apprehend the kidnappers.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Kogi state police command, SP William Aya, confirmed the incident and reported that some of the passengers have been rescued during a counter-action.
Aya, in a statement, 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 the military and vigilantes 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 possible arrest of the perpetrators,” he added.
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
