Gunmen abduct ‘several passengers’ along Benin-Auchi road

Some gunmen on Tuesday abducted all the passengers in an Abuja-bound commercial bus along the Benin-Auchi road in Edo State, it has been claimed.

The incident reportedly happened around 11 a.m. between the Ehor and Iruekpen axis of the busy highway.

A commuter, who identified himself as Idris Audu, said the kidnappers struck at a failed portion of the road and abducted all the passengers in the commercial bus owned by a transport firm, Big Joe.

“The kidnappers struck again on the Benin-Auchi road and abducted an unspecified number of passengers. The incident just happened when I passed the spot. All the passengers were forcefully taken into the bush‎,” Mr Audu said.

“It is not the first time this is happening. We have cried many times that the security agencies should increase surveillance along the road this season, but they’re slow in arresting this ugly situation.”

A driver of the transport company, who requested not to be named, confirmed the incident.

“Yes, it happened earlier today,” he simply said.

The transport firm is yet to speak officially on the kidnap.

Chidi Nwabuzor, the state Police Public Relations Officer, said he had not been briefed of the development.

Source: Premium Times