Gunmen Attack Two Buses on Owerri-Onitsha Expressway, Abduct Passengers

Two buses travelling from Lagos to Onitsha and Owerri were reportedly attacked by armed men on Thursday morning along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway, with passengers allegedly robbed and taken into a nearby bush.

The incident reportedly occurred at about 5:30am as Nigerians marked the country’s 66th Independence Day. An eyewitness said the attackers intercepted the vehicles, dispossessed passengers of their belongings and forced some of them into the bush.

The eyewitness identified the attackers as Fulani herdsmen and bandits. However, that description has not been independently verified, and the identities of those responsible remain unconfirmed.
A video from the scene showed one of the affected buses bearing “Government of Akwa Ibom State” on its front. The eyewitness said police officers arrived at the scene while soldiers entered the surrounding bush in an attempt to locate and rescue the victims.

“Police came this morning, and the army has already entered the bush to see if they can rescue those victims,” the eyewitness said. The exact number of passengers allegedly taken into the bush remained unclear as of the time of filing the report.

The incident adds to previous reports of attacks along major roads in the region. In March 2025, police rescued three kidnapped victims along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway in Ozubulu, while passengers travelling on an Akwa Ibom transport bus were reportedly abducted along the Aba-Owerri road in May 2025.

The Imo State Police Command could not immediately be reached for comment on the latest incident. The Anambra State Police Command said the reported location was not within its jurisdiction.
The attack has renewed concerns about the safety of travellers using major highways across the South-East, particularly routes bordered by large forest areas. As security personnel search for the missing passengers, their families remain anxious while the exact number of victims and circumstances surrounding the abductions are yet to be established.