Fear has gripped communities along the Benin-Akure highway after gunmen abducted approximately 18 passengers traveling in a commercial bus on Saturday.
The attack happened near Obarenren village in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State.
Eyewitnesses said the armed men blocked the highway, fired warning shots into the air, and forced terrified passengers out of their 18-seater Big Joe bus before marching them into nearby bushland.
Edo State Police spokesperson Eno Ikoedem confirmed that security forces immediately mobilized after the incident.
Joint teams of police officers and Nigerian Army personnel have been conducting intensive bush-combing operations to locate the remaining victims.
“The incident happened last Saturday. The passengers were in an 18-seater Big Joe bus. We have been combing the bush in collaboration with the Nigerian Army,” Ikoedem said.
So far, 11 of the abducted passengers have been rescued, though no arrests have been made yet. Security operations are still ongoing in the area.
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