16 Passengers Abducted By Gunmen In Rivers

Gunmen, on Monday night, allegedly hijacked a bus with 16 passengers around Ndele axis of East West Road, Rivers State at about 9pm on Monday.

The armed men are said to be known terrorists of Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State axis of East West road.

The gunmen abducted the passengers who had boarded the commercial bus from Rumuokoro to Ahoada Local Government Area.

Confirming the incident, one of the passengers, Bright Welekwe‎, who allegedly escaped from the kidnappers said that the armed men forced them into a nearby bush, before five persons including himself managed to escape, remaining eleven persons.

He said that security operatives did not respond promptly to the incident despite the fact that it took place only a few meters away from a police check point in the area.

According to him, the hoodlums had gone far into the forest before security operatives arrived the scene of the incident.

“We were nineteen that boarded a bus from Rumuokoro going to Ahoada but when we got to Ndele three people dropped; after that, between the bush between Ndele and Elele Alimini, hoodlums ambushed us and tried to take us inside the bush; I and four other persons escaped before police personal arrived the scene.

“But I am sure they did not free the remaining people that night even with the help of soldiers; police officers carried five of us to a place where we saw another vehicle going to our destination”, he said.

According to DAILY POST, the Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, Nnamdi Omoni, when contacted, said the command was yet to be briefed on the issue.