Gunmen kill driver, kidnap passengers in Ondo

Some unknown gunmen have killed the driver of an 18-seater commercial bus and abducted its passengers at Akunu in Akoko North East Local Government Area of Ondo State.

According to sources, over the weekend, the kidnappers shot the driver of the bus while attempting to escape. The bus was forced to stop following the shooting of the driver, who reportedly died on the spot and left behind a little girl.

Motorists, who later arrived at the scene, found the bus riddled with bullets and the whereabouts of the passengers unknown.

Operatives of the Southwestern security outfit, the Amotekun corps, soldiers, hunters, and police detectives were later deployed to the forest to rescue the victims.

It was gathered that the kidnappers have yet to communicate with any family members of the victims since Friday when they were abducted.

Funmi Odunlami, the state police spokesperson, confirmed the abduction of the passengers.

In a statement in Akure, Odunlami said the state police commissioner, Abayomi Oladipo, has “ordered the deployment of special squads to the Akunnu Akoko area of the state to rescue the victims and arrest their abductors.

Odunlami said: “The Area Commander and his team, with the support of the military and local security, moved into the affected area for possible rescue immediately after the incident occurred.

“Personnel drawn from various tactical units led by the Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad have also been briefed and deployed to the area for the rescue of victims and the possible arrest of suspects.

“The command is using this opportunity to assure the good people of the state and the general motoring public not to panic, as this isolated case does not determine the security status of the state.”