Panic spread along a major interstate route on Sunday after suspected kidnappers attacked a commercial bus travelling from Lagos to the eastern part of Nigeria, killing the driver and abducting several passengers.
The vehicle was reportedly forced to a halt after coming under heavy gunfire, leaving passengers trapped as the attackers took control of the situation. The exact number of those abducted has not yet been confirmed.
A video circulating online shows the aftermath of the attack, with eyewitness claims that the assailants opened fire before dragging passengers into the surrounding bush.
In the footage, a narrator alleges that the driver was shot dead at the scene while the remaining occupants were taken away. “The kidnappers shot and killed the driver. They also took passengers into the bush… it looks like the entire bus was taken,” the voice said.
Police authorities have confirmed the incident and say an urgent operation is underway to track down the attackers and rescue the victims.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, stated that the attack occurred within the jurisdiction of the Iguobazuwa Police Division, prompting an immediate security response.
According to her, the Commissioner of Police has ordered a coordinated manhunt, with neighbouring divisions mobilised to carry out bush-combing operations across the area.
Security teams are currently combing nearby forests in search of the abducted passengers, while efforts are also being intensified to apprehend those responsible for the нападение.
Police have assured the public that additional measures are being deployed to strengthen safety along the affected highway, which has seen rising security concerns in recent times.
The incident adds to growing worries over highway kidnappings in parts of southern Nigeria, with commuters increasingly exposed to attacks by armed groups targeting inter-state transport routes.
