Driver Killed, Passengers Abducted As Gunmen Attack Bus In Ondo

A driver of an 18-seater commercial bus was reportedly killed over the weekend by gunmen who abducted its passengers at Akunu in Akoko North East Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The gunmen who struck on Friday, according to sources left behind a little girl.

It was gathered that the kidnappers shot the driver of the bus while attempting to escape.

Following the shooting of the driver, who reportedly died on the spot, the bus was forced to stop.

Motorists, who later arrived at the scene, met the bus riddled with bullets and the whereabouts of the passengers unknown.

Security personnel were later deployed to the forest to rescue the victims.

It was gathered that the kidnappers had not communicated with any family members of the victims since Friday when they were abducted.

The state police spokesperson, Funmi Odunlami, when contacted, confirmed the abduction of the passengers.

Odunlami, in a statement in Akure, said the state police commissioner, Abayomi Oladipo, has “ordered the deployment of special squads to Akunnu Akoko area of the state to rescue the victims and arrest their abductors.

Odunlami said: “The Area Commander and his team with the support of the military and local security moved into the affected area for possible rescue immediately the incident occurred.

“Personnel drawn from various tactical units led by the Special Anti Kidnapping Squad have also been briefed and deployed to the area for the rescue of victims and possible arrest of suspects.

“The command is using this opportunity to assure the good people of the state and general motoring public not to panic as this isolated case does not determine the security status of the state.”