The Security Adviser to Kogi State governor, Commodore Jerry Omodara (retd) has said security operatives are on the trail of abductors of 18 passengers on a bus belonging to the ABC Transport.

The passengers were kidnapped on Sunday.

Mr Omodara disclosed this on Thursday in Lokoja.

The bus, reportedly heading to Abuja on Sunday, March 16, from the South-East  was reportedly hijacked by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers at Oloma in the Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi, a border town between the state and Enugu State.

Reliable sources said that all the bus passengers including the driver were abducted by the gunmen.

However, Mr Omodara, who confirmed the incident, said that a combined team of security operatives had launched a manhunt for the abductors.

He said the operatives in Kogi State, including the military, police, SSS, NSCDC and vigilante groups were in synergy to rescue the victims.

He stated, “Just on Wednesday, all the security heads met twice to see that we get the kidnappers and rescue the victims.’’

According to him, this kind of synergy and cooperation from residents provide security agents useful information that helps them to succeed.

He said that Kogi State had recorded a drastic drop in kidnapping incidents and crimes due to synergy and cooperation from residents.

The state security adviser said though they might not be able to completely eradicate crime in the state, they were making efforts to tackle any that reared its ugly head.

He assured families of the abducted passengers that they would be released unhurt.

He added, “We want Kogi to be a haven for all residents and passers-by alike.”

(NAN)