By Kareem Abdulrahman
ABUJA – Armed men have reportedly abducted four travellers in Nigeria’s southwestern state of Kwara, leaving behind three children, police said Sunday.
The incident occurred near Obbo-Aiyegunle, Ekiti Local Government Area of the state. The travellers were heading to Offa city in Kwara state from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The victims who were said to be travelling in a Sienna bus belonging to Olumoh Express, a transport company based in Offa, were reportedly waylaid midway and whisked into the bush to an unknown destination amid gunshots.
Secretary of the transport company, Engr Mikhail Ayobami Oyelade, confirmed the incident to a local newspaper, adding that they were alerted by fellow transporters who saw the abandoned vehicle on the road around 4pm on Saturday.
Oyelade said: “Although we don’t know the exact time it happened, I just came back from Osi police station where we went to report the case.
“We have also reported to the vigilantes in the area who had since stormed the bush since Saturday trailing the kidnappers and their victims and we fervently pray that they will be rescued.
“The bus left the park with five passengers, but the oldest of the children that were left behind told us that two more people later joined them on the way.
“They shot two tires of the vehicle and matched the victims including the driver of the bus into the bush but abandoned the three children who have been reunited with their relatives.”
Kwara State Police Command’s spokeswoman SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi said about eighth hoodlums carried out the attack, adding that the children were between the ages of two and 12 years old.
“The Kwara Command has intensified efforts through discreet investigation, intelligence gathering and sustained bush combing to track down the perpetrators and secure the safe rescue of the remaining victims.
“The Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo assures the public that the command remains fully committed to the safety and protection of all residents and urged anyone with useful information to report through the established channels of the kwara police command”, the police spokeswoman said.
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