Armed herdsmen invaded the Igueben train station in Edo State yesterday, abducting dozens of passengers and injuring several others. 

No death has been recorded from the incident. 

According to a statement by police authorities, the herdsmen, armed with AK47 rifles, attacked the station while passengers were waiting to board the train, shooting sporadically into the air and at the passengers, leaving victims with severe gunshot wounds. 

“This is to inform the gentlemen of the press that today, 7th of January, 2023 at about 1600hrs, unspecified number of herdsmen armed with AK 47 rifles attacked the train station at Igueben, Edo State and kidnapped unspecified number of passengers who were waiting to board the train to Warri.

“The kidnappers who shot sporadically into the air before kidnapping some passengers left some persons with bullet wounds.

“The Area Commander Irrua, DPO Igueben Division, and men have visited the scene of crime with members of the Edo State Security Network, local vigilantes, and hunters with a view to protecting the lives and property of the remaining passengers,” Chidi Nwabuzor, police spokesperson in Edo state wrote. 

Mr Nwabuzor told Peoples Gazette that preliminary findings by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the area shows that the attack was coordinated and executed by herdsmen who had previously been responsible for pockets of violence around the area. 

He further confirmed that the police along with other security agencies were combing the forests in the area to rescue the abducted victims.