Gunmen abduct bus passengers in Kogi

Gunmen have kidnapped several passengers traveling in a bus at Okene, Kogi State.

According to a viral post on social media platform X, the victims were traveling from Edo State to Abuja on Wednesday when they were ambushed and abducted.

The bus, operated by Big Joe Motors, a transport company based in Benin, the Edo State capital, was reportedly carrying 13 passengers. Among those kidnapped was the bus driver.

David Aiguobagbon, a manager at the Abuja branch of Big Joe Motors, confirmed the incident to PREMIUM TIMES over the phone on Thursday. He stated that the exact number of abducted passengers is unclear because some managed to flee the scene.

“We do not use or have 18 passenger buses, we only have 13. According to what we heard, there were 13 people, and some of the passengers were able to escape,” Aiguobagbon said. “We have reported it to the police station where the incident happened, but we don’t know the fact yet if it was 13 or 18. Some of the passengers left their phones behind and we have not received any call from the kidnappers yet demanding any ransom.”

Aiguobagbon added that one of the company’s managers has traveled to Kogi State to assist with the investigation. “One of our managers is already at the police station in Kogi State helping the police out. We have not heard from the driver yet. He has two phones, one was left behind, and he was with the second one. We have been trying to reach him. Yesterday, his phone was still going, but it was already switched off this morning.”

He urged families of the victims to remain patient and cooperate with the authorities. “We are working with the police and it will be successful. If any family has been contacted for ransom, they should please contact us,” he said.

When contacted, the police spokesperson in Edo State, Chidi Uwabuzor, redirected inquiries to his counterpart in Kogi State, stating, “Please ask PPRO Kogi. The incident falls within the jurisdiction of Kogi state.”

William Aya, the spokesperson for the Kogi Police Command, acknowledged the incident but had not provided further details at the time of the report. Subsequent attempts to reach him were unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, a social media user on X, @Pn Stuff, claimed that the kidnappers are demanding a N30 million ransom. “I just called the Abuja Big Joe secretary to confirm and she said it’s true and the kidnappers are asking for #30M,” the post read.

(PremiumTimes)