Armed bandits have attacked an 18-passenger bus in Afin Akoko in the Akoko Northwest LGA of Ondo State, kidnapping four passengers, Peoples Gazette learnt. 

The travellers en route to Irun through Imesi town, a border community with Ekiti and Ondo, were abducted at about 6:00 p.m. on Saturday.

The Gazette gathered that the victims were mostly residents of Irun and Ikare Akoko, who were returning home from an event. 

A source told The Gazette on Sunday afternoon that the attack on the passenger bus was well coordinated by the bandits. 

“The kidnappers waylaid the vehicle in a commando style, and some of the passengers who noticed them from afar had to force the driver to stop on motion before they escaped into the bush. 

“But a few others could not escape as the armed men were already near; they took four of them away and shot directly at the vehicle,” he said.

Although the details about the kidnap case were still sketchy, it was learnt that joint security operatives have swung into action and are currently combing the bush for their release.

Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, the spokesperson for the police in Ondo, could not be immediately reached for comments. 

However, the Ondo commander of the Amotekun Corps, Adetunji Adeleye, confirmed the kidnap case in a short release forwarded to The Gazette. 

Mr Adeleye said officers from the local security outfit, in collaboration with the other security services, particularly the military, are now combing the bushes to rescue the abducted victims.

“The hoodlums could not kidnap the whole 18 passengers in the bus, and also some of them had to escape. 

“But our men and soldiers from Ekiti are combing the forest, even though we had been able to rescue some of them yesterday night,” he said.