Passengers of a Benin-bound coastal bus were on Saturday kidnapped along Benin-Owo Expressway in Ifon, the headquarters of Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Metronetworknews gathered that the bus left Ondo and on getting to Ifon area, some hoodlums appeared from the bush and intercepted it at gunpoint, after which all the paseengers in the vehicle were whisked into the bush.
Although,the exact number of the victims were not ascertained, some sources said the victims were over 40 in number.
However, another source disclosed that the travellers were 32 in number.
The source said, “The people were going to Benin when they were kidnapped in Ifon area on their way on Saturday and nobody has heard anything about them since then.”
When contacted , the Police Public Relations Officer of the state, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, confirmed the incident.
She, however, was not certain on the number of the victims.
The PPRO said the men of the command and other security agencies in the state had commenced search for the victims in the forest.
“Our men and other security agencies are already in the forest to rescue the victims unhurt, while investigation into the incident has commenced,” Odunlami stated.
Similarly, the Ondo State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun, said its men were currently combing the Benin-Ifon to Owo forest in the state in search for the victims.
The state commander of the Amotekun Corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, said the command would do all in its power to rescue the victims and rid the state of criminals.
The commander stated that the men of the corps and other security agencies “have been briefed and have since commenced search for the victims.”
