…as mother escapes, leaving daughter behind
Ben Peters, Abuja
Suspected gunmen have reportedly kidnapped over 12 persons along the Afuze-Ihievbe-Auchi road in Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State.
The incident happened between 6pm and 7pm according to the villagers.
A resident from Ihievbe, who spoke with our reporter on condition of anonymity noted that two of the abducted victims escaped.
The source stated that members of vigilante group have combed off the forests and bush in the locality of Warrake and other communities to rescue the victims.
It is gathered that the victims including a child of about nine years old were kidnapped in a sienna bus.
According to a viral video with a voice over, suspected kidnappers took over the not too busy road in a commando style, hijacked a jeep with the occupants and drove into the bush.
It’s also learnt from the video that another oncoming car, whose driver was lucky to have sighted the kidnappers, quickly parked while the occupant escaped into the bush.
He explained that a sienna bus, was, however, unfortunately as it ran into the hands of the suspects.
“The passengers were ambushed with some of them which includes a woman who managed to escape but could not take her daughter who is said to be about 9years old along.
“The vigilantes from the Ihievbe-Afuze axis are said to be in the bush on trail of the kidnappers.
“The Auchi-Afuze road is known as a notorious route for kidnappers, but the situation was, however curtailed with the presence of soldiers and local vigilantes before the present resurgence”, the voice record said.
In the viral video, three vehicles were said to be hijacked by the gunmen. ML 320 Jeep with registration number AGD 542 GU none of the occupants were inside, an indication that they might have been kidnapped.
In a Sienna Jeep with registration number Kogi LKJ 464 YE with about 10 occupants, nine persons were said to be kidnapped including a nine year old child whose mother’s escaped into the bush leaving the daughter in the vehicle.
In the third vehicle the driver and the occupants were said to have escaped unhurt.
When contacted the Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Police command, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor said he was not aware of the incident.