Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers ambushed an 18-passenger bus bound for Ado-Ekiti at Emure Ile, kidnapping most passengers onboard.
The incident occurred on Sunday night on the outskirts of Emure-Owo, near the Ekiti-Ondo boundary, as the bus was returning from Onitsha.
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A source from the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) Ado-Ekiti Motor Terminal branch, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that the kidnappers abducted the driver, identified as Sunday Emmanuel, along with other passengers, demanding a ransom of N30 million each.
The source said, “They drove the bus into the bush and dragged people inside. They called the family of the driver, and I pleaded to speak with him. After our conversation, they demanded a ransom of N30 million. They said they would call back, but they have not done so yet.”
He added that the kidnappers abandoned some children in the bus, whose cries attracted the attention of passersby. The incident was reported to the nearest police station after the discovery.
“They left some children on the bus, and it seems that some people at the farm saw the kids and alerted the police in Emure-Owo. The driver’s union in Ado-Ekiti is currently holding a meeting on how to reach out to the kidnappers,” the source added.
It was also disclosed that two passengers managed to escape before police arrived to recover the bus.
Meanwhile, the family of the kidnapped driver confirmed that they are yet to receive further communication from the abductors after their initial ransom demand.
A family member, who also requested anonymity, said, “When I called the union, they said they are making calls on how to sort out the ransom. The union called me again today, and I told them I have not heard again from the kidnappers, and no one knows how to reach out to them. We learned that the union held a meeting today to discuss the ransom and how to negotiate with the kidnappers.”
At the time of filing this report, the Ekiti State Police Command was yet to comment on the incident, as the police spokesperson could not be reached.
