Gunmen have reportedly abducted 9 passengers in Ogbabo junction along Itobe-Anyigba road, while the driver and six passengers escaped by whiskers.
The Treasurerimes learnt that the incident occurred Friday evening at about 4:20 p.m. near Ogbabo Junction in Ofu local government area of Kogi state.
It was learnt that the gunmen who laid ambush at the location suddenly bursted into the express way when they noticed a Hummer bus loaded with passengers was approaching.
The gunmen forced the bus to a halt and start firing guns to scare the passengers who were traveling in a Peace Mass Transit suspected to be heading towards the East.
However, the driver of the bus named Mr Sunday Okechi outsmarted the gunmen and escaped into the bush along with six passengers. But the nine other passengers were not that lucky as they were marched into the surrounding forest.
The scene of abduction was just some 300 meters to the next military checkpoint along Ogbabo-Ochadamu road. Security personnel were swiftly mobilised to the scene, where the bus with registration number ENZ-55 XS and a blue Toyota Carina ‘E’ were found abandoned.
Both vehicles have been taken into safe custody.
Security agencies in collaboration with local securities such as Vigilante Group of Nigeria members, and local hunters have since commenced a search-and-rescue operation to track the kidnappers and the victims.
The Kogi state Police command in Lokoja is yet to respond to the incidence. The command spokesman SP Williams Ovye could not be reached on phone as his line indicated switched off.
