Gunmen abduct passengers in Ekiti-Ondo border ambush, demand N30 million ransom
Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers ambushed an 18-seater bus heading to Ado-Ekiti at Emure Ile on Sunday night, abducting nearly all passengers onboard.
The attack occurred on the outskirts of Emure-Owo, near the boundary between Ekiti and Ondo states, as the bus was returning from Onitsha.
According to a member of the Ado-Ekiti branch of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), the assailants also seized the driver, identified as Sunday Emmanuel, alongside the passengers, and demanded a ransom of N30 million per person.
The anonymous source disclosed that the gunmen abandoned several children in the vehicle, whose cries attracted the attention of locals early the following morning.
“The discovery was subsequently reported to the police.
The source further explained, “The gunmen drove the bus into the bush and forced the passengers to follow them.
“When we spoke to the driver during the kidnappers’ initial call, they demanded N30 million as ransom but have not made further contact since then.”
It was also revealed that two passengers managed to escape before the police arrived at the scene to recover the vehicle.
Meanwhile, efforts are ongoing as the driver’s union in Ado-Ekiti holds discussions on how to engage the kidnappers.
A relative of the abducted driver confirmed that the union had been contacted about the situation but reported no further communication from the kidnappers.
The Ekiti State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement, as attempts to reach the Public Relations Officer were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
(AFRIPOST)
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