Security Agents Rescue Passenger As Gunmen Ambush 2 Buses In Delta

Suspected herdsmen have ambushed two commercial buses near Obayantor 2 community, along the Benin–Sapele Expressway, between Edo and Delta States.

The incident occurred about 10:45 p.m, on Wednesday night when gunmen emerged from the bush and opened fire on vehicles.

One of the two buses which had four passengers from Kaduna to Sapele, was forced to a stop by the attackers but three of the passengers escaped into the darkness.

However, a 53-year-old Abubakar Ahmed, was left behind and believed to have been kidnapped.

The driver of the bus, Ikechukwu Nwanonaku, and two passengers, Hassan Jafaru and Sani Saidi, escaped unhurt.

Ahmed was eventually rescued after a chase by security agents that forced the kidnappers deeper into the forest.

He was subsequently reunited with the other passengers before being taken to the police station.

The second bus, with registration number GB 211 LG with inscription “Ovia South LGA”, was found parked off the road with its doors locked except the driver’s side, without any trace of passengers or the driver in the vehicle.

Items recovered from the driver’s seat included a power bank, a Samsung Android phone and ₦9,500 cash.

A combined team comprising personnel of Nigerian Army, police operatives and vigilantes arrived at the location shortly after receiving a distress call.

The troops “acted swiftly to close escape routes and pressure the kidnappers.”

“Once we received the alert, our men moved to block the flanks while the police and vigilantes pushed forward.

“The bush is very dense, but we maintained pressure. That pressure helped in forcing the kidnappers to abandon their victim,” a security source who participated in the operation told our correspondent.

“It was the joint ground search that led to the breakthrough. After combing the surrounding bushes for several minutes, security teams sighted movement and advanced.”

Security operatives later described the terrain as “a hostile stretch,” heavily vegetated and frequently exploited by criminal elements targeting motorists.

Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of Delta Command, SP Bright Edafe, insisted that security agents would sustain the pressure on criminal groups exploiting the route.