Crime

Driver killed as gunmen abduct another Abuja-bound travellers in Ondo

Published

3 months ago

February 12, 2024

A driver was killed after gunmen abducted the commuters of an 18-passenger commercial bus near the boundary, between Akunu-Akoko in Akoko North West Local Government Area of Ondo State, and Ayere, in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The bus owned by GUO Transport Company and heading to Abuja from Lagos was attacked on Friday, February 9, 2024.

The management of the transport firm, in a statement posted on its official Facebook page on Sunday, confirmed the development, saying the driver was killed, adding that other passengers, except a three-year-old child, were allegedly kidnapped along the corridor.

A senator, Ned Nwoko, had earlier shared the news of the alleged attack on the GUO bus on Saturday via his verified X handle, @Prince_NedNwoko, saying that the hoodlums abducted all the passengers but left an infant inside the vehicle.

Though the senator failed to mention the location of the attack, he emphasised the need for the government to allow its citizens to bear arms for self-protection.

The senator wrote, “This was reported to have happened to GUO yesterday. They killed the driver, left the small girl there, and kidnapped all the passengers. This is the reason for the law on self-defence.

“If the driver had a gun or any of the passengers, the kidnappers wouldn’t certainly have their way. The only thing they have that good and law-abiding citizens don’t have are guns. The passengers might never be rescued, and just imagine the poor little girl who will be traumatised for life.”

The Spokesperson of Ondo State Police Command, SP ‘Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya confirmed the incident in a statement made available to newsmen in Akure, the state capital.

She noted that the State Commissioner of Police, Abayomi Oladipo has since ordered that a team of policemen from the Anti Kidnapping Squad of the Command be despatched to the area.

The team is presently combing the entire area in an attempt to rescue the victims and apprehend the kidnappers.