A Lagos-bound bus with 18 passengers was attacked by armed men, yesterday, along Idoani-Ifira Road in Akoko South-East, Ondo State.
An undisclosed number of passengers were also abducted by the armed men.
The incident, according to local, sources occurred on the failed portion of the Idoani-Ifira Road.
It was gathered that there was sporadic shooting as the gunmen carried out their operation, causing the passengers to run for safety.
The Divisional Police Officer in charge of Isua Akoko, Mr Hakeem Sadiq, confirmed the incident to newsmen, yesterday.
He said the police are already working with other sister agencies to ensure that the travellers were rescued unhurt.
In the meantime, an Ifira Akoko community leader, Chief Boboye Ojomo, has attributed incessant robberies and kidnapping on that axis to deplorable condition of federal road from Orita Ipele to Idoani.
He called on Federal Government through the Minister of Works, Mr Babatunde Fashola, to look into all federal roads in Ondo State as many are now in state of disrepair.
However, the Ondo state security outfit codenamed, ‘Amotekun’ has rescued nine out of the 12 passengers kidnapped in a Lagos-bound commercial bus between ldoani/lfira in Akoko South-East area of the state.
The state Commander of the security outfit, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, confirmed this to newsmen in Akure.
It would be recalled that the abduction of the travellers occurred at a failed portion of the highway.
The commercial bus was coming from Abuja and heading to Lagos when it was attacked by bandits.
A police source said that the kidnappers who were Fulani herdsmen reportedly ambushed the commercial Toyota Hiace bus and shot at which forced the driver to stop.
In the process, the passengers reportedly took to their heels while the kidnappers doubled cross them and abducted those that could not escape from the scene at gunpoint.
The report said that many of the passengers were thereafter marched into the forest.
Adeleye said that nine of the victims had been rescued by his personnel.
“The gunshot from the bandits attracted the officials of the Amotekun in the area who pursued the criminals into the bush.
“Nine of the 12 passengers in the vehicle were rescued overnight by the Amotekun men while they are still combing the forest to rescue the other three victims”.
Adeleye assured that the three other victims will be rescued unhurt.
He said that the hoodlums will be brought to book while the anti-kidnapping unit of the command had swung into action to ensure the release of the victims.
Reports had it that local hunters in the community have joined to comb the thick forest.
Contacted, the spokesperson of the state command, Olufunmilayo Odunlami, also confirmed the abduction of the passengers.
According to her, “There was actually a kidnap case as I speak to you our anti-kidnapping unit has taken over that case and we expect something positive.