Travellers were thrown into panic on Friday, September 5, 2025, when armed men intercepted an Edo Line commercial bus along the Benin–Auchi Highway and seized 18 passengers.
The incident, which occurred in broad daylight, forced motorists and commuters to abandon the road as the attackers marched passengers into the bush.
Police confirmed the development on Saturday, with the Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Command, SP Moses Iyamu, stating that 16 of the abducted travellers had been rescued through the quick intervention of security operatives.
He said efforts were ongoing to locate and free the remaining two victims, while search-and-rescue operations have been intensified around the highway and adjoining forests.
The Benin–Auchi road has in recent years become a hotspot for armed attacks, sparking repeated calls from commuters and residents for stronger security measures along the corridor.