Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have intercepted a commercial bus at Isiokpo area of Rivers State and whisked away more than 20 occupants of the vehicle. The bus branded ‘’Rivers Mass Transit Company’’ was said to be travelling from Port Harcourt to Owerri, Imo State, before it was stopped by the bandits at Isiokpo, Ikwerre Local Government Area. “The 18-seater bus had loaded at Agip and Whimpy on Ikwerre Road”, a driver, who went through the same spot and narrowly escaped the incident stated.
It was learnt that 18 passengers, a driver and conductor of the bus were all taken away by the hoodlums to an unknown destination. Another driver, who allegedly escaped the incident, Martins Aluziwe, averred he and driver of the attacked bus had loaded at Agip and Whimpy junctions and met again at Omuagwa before the incident.
Aluziwe narrated: “What happened was that we were going to Owerri this morning. On getting to Omuagwa, I met my co-driver who was also travelling to Owerre. When we got to Isiokpo on top of the bridge by Isiokpo junction armed men attacked us.
“Because I was in the front, they only shot at my car, but could not stop me. The bullet did not get anybody inside the vehicle, but the bus next to me was attacked and everybody, including the driver and passengers, more than 20 of them, were taken to the bush.
“Another of my colleague who came behind informed me that soldiers have entered the bush but no information about the kidnapped victims yet. We hereby call for more security personnel to help rescue the people.”
He stated that soldiers at a check point near the scene of the kidnap have already moved into the bush in search of the victims and the kidnappers.
In the interim, the Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Police Command, Nnamdi Omoni, had said the command is yet to be briefed on the development.
