An attack was carried out by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers on the evening of Tuesday May 2, 2023 in which vehicles plying the Afuze-Ihievbe Road in Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State were hijacked and about 12 persons abducted.
According to reports, the incident which has heightened fear over safety of commuters on that road, happened between 6pm and 7pm and 12 persons including a girlchild of about nine years old were kidnapped from a Sienna bus.
In a viral video reporting the attack with a voiceover, said the kidnappers took over the lonely road in a commando style, hijacked a jeep with the occupants and drove into the bush.
It also reported that another upcoming car was lucky to have sighted the kidnappers, parked and the occupants escaped into the bush.
The Sienna bus not so lucky, unfortunately ran into the hands of the kidnappers.
In the video, one of three vehicles – ML 320 Jeep with registration number AGD 542 GU – was reportedly hijacked by the gunmen but none of the occupants was inside, an indication that they might have been kidnapped.
A Sienna bus with registration number Kogi LKJ 464 YE with about 10 occupants was said to be kidnapped along with a nine year old girlwhose mother was the only person that escaped into the bush.
The driver and passengers in the third vehicle were said to have escaped unhurt.
A resident from Ihievbe who spoke on condition of anonymity, however, said nine persons were kidnapped while two persons escaped.
He said members of a vigilante group in the locality have combed the forest and bush in the locality, Warrake and other communities in a bid to rescue the victims.
“The passengers were ambushed with some of them which include a woman who managed to escape but could not take her daughter who is said to be about nine years old along.
“The vigilantes from the Ihievbe-Afuze axis are said to be in the bush on the trail of the kidnappers.
“The Auchi-Afuze road is known as a notorious route for kidnappers, but the situation was curtailed with the presence of soldiers and local vigilantes before the present resurgence,” volunteered.
Following a quick action, the Edo State Police Command announced on Thursday, May 4, 2023, that it has rescued two out of the 12 persons kidnapped by gunmen in Owan East Local Government Area.
Police Public Relations Officer, Edo State Police Command, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, who confirmed the rescue, said he cannot ascertained the number of persons kidnapped because there was nobody to give account of the number of persons involved.
Nwabuzor said operatives of the command are still combing the bush to rescue other kidnapped victims and arrest the perpetrators while the rescued victims are receiving treatment at the hospital.