Gunmen have killed a bus driver and abducted an unspecified number of passengers in Benin, Edo State.
The commercial bus was traveling from Lagos to the country’s east when it was hit by heavy gunfire, forcing it to come to a stop.
A viral video showed the aftermath of the incident, with an anonymous narrator claiming that the gunmen opened fire on the truck before hauling occupants away.
The narrator said, “The kidnappers shot and killed the driver. They also took passengers into the bush. I don’t know the number, but it looks more like the entire (sic) were kidnapped.”
Assistant Superintendent Eno Ikoedem, the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, verified the incident and announced a manhunt for the culprits.
She stated that the event occurred in the Iguobazuwa Police Division area.
Ikoedem added, “The commissioner of police has directed adjoining divisions to join in the bush-combing efforts to rescue the victims and arrest the perpetrators.”
She added that operations were also ongoing to improve safety along the highway.
