Kwara State, Nigeria – Seven passengers, including the driver of a commercial vehicle, were abducted by armed men on Saturday evening along the Obbo-Ayegunle road in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The victims were traveling from Abuja to Offa in a Sienna vehicle operated by Olumoh Express transport company when they were intercepted between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. by unidentified gunmen.
According to eyewitness accounts and reports reaching our newsroom, the assailants forcibly took all occupants of the vehicle, leaving only three children behind, who were later rescued.
Spokesperson of the Kwara State Police Command, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed the incident in an official statement.
“Armed hoodlums numbering about eight reportedly intercepted a Sienna bus with registration number FFA 50XD. They abducted seven individuals, including the driver,” she said.
“Upon receipt of the report, police operatives in collaboration with local vigilantes swiftly responded. The vehicle was recovered, and during a coordinated search operation, three children aged between two and 12 were found and safely rescued.”
The police disclosed that one of the children was able to identify her guardian, leading to a successful reunion with their families.
Search efforts are ongoing to rescue the remaining victims. The command stated that it has intensified operations through intelligence gathering, sustained bush combing, and coordinated investigations aimed at tracking down the abductors.
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Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, reassured the public of the command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property. He urged residents to provide any useful information that could aid in the ongoing rescue efforts via official police communication channels.
The rising trend of highway abductions in Nigeria has sparked widespread concern. Commenting on the broader issue, former presidential candidate Peter Obi once remarked that such acts of violence are becoming “normalized”—a sentiment that continues to resonate amid growing insecurity across the country.
