Gunmen raid Edo highway, kidnap passengers, kill vigilante
Hell was let loose on Thursday as suspected gunmen took over the ever busy Benin-Ekpoma-Auchi Road in Edo State with some commuters kidnapped in the attack.
A witness said that the kidnappers, after seizing a commercial bus, forced the passengers to disembark and led them into a bush.
The driver was reportedly made to block the road with his bus in a attempt to force oncoming vehicles to stop.
“The operation was well planned, as the suspected kidnapper divided themselves into groups. A group led the first set of victims into the bush while a second group forced the driver of the bus to use the vehicle to block the road.
“Other vehicles that ran into the traffic jam caused by the blockade were attacked by another group of the kidnappers, who selected victims and marched them to join the earlier captured passengers in the kidnappers’ den.
A member of a vigilante group in the area was reportedly shot dead when he attempted to disrupt the operation.
A motorist, who claimed to have abandoned his vehicle and run into the bush to hide, said he met other people who also escaped into the bush.
He explained that the gunmen shot continuously for a long time without any resistance from security agents.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor, confirmed the incident.
He said, “Yes, the command is aware of the kidnap but we have yet to ascertain the number of passengers that were kidnapped.
“A vigilante group in that community engaged the kidnappers and one was killed, Effort is currently ongoing to free those kidnapped.