Transporters deny hijack of passenger buses by kidnappers

Public Transport Owners of Nigeria Association (PTONA) and one of its affiliates, Association of Luxury Bus Transporters of Nigeria (ALBON) have described the alleged kidnap of passengers travelling on board Young Shall Grow Motors, GUO Transport and Ezenwata luxurious buses as ‘fake news.’

The transporters’ associations said the news was a conjecture that is capable of upsetting the peace and the tranquillity of the nation, and should, therefore, be disregarded.

A social media post has been circulating with the report alleging that some persons from the eastern part of Nigeria in particular and southern Nigeria in general, who travelled with the said companies were kidnapped by bandits at Lokoja, Kogi State, on their way from Anambra State to Sokoto.”

A statement signed by the Public Relations Officer, PTONA, Paul Okoghenun, explained that at no time were buses belonging to the said companies hijacked, adding that no traveller in any of their vehicles was kidnapped.

Okoghenun, who is also the Managing Director/CEO of Rahony Travels Limited, Lagos, said: “None of the luxury buses belonging to our members – GUO, Ezenwata and The Young Shall Grow Motors – has been hijacked by bandits, whether at Kogi or anywhere else. Therefore, no traveller has experienced kidnapping in the said buses.

“We believe that the social media post concerning the alleged hijack and kidnap emanated from unscrupulous elements, who are out to promote crisis where none exists.

“We, therefore, call on the members of the public to disregard the post and go about their normal businesses. Our customers should be rest assured that we, working with security personnel, are always out to protect their interest.”

He added that management of the three companies had also confirmed that their buses were neither hijacked, nor involved in any unfortunate incidents lately.

Speaking on the report, the Vice President, ALBON, Nonso Ubajaka, said the fake news is the handiwork of mischief-makers, who do not mean well for the road transportation sector and the society at large.

Ubajaka, who is the Executive Director of Izu Chukwu Transport, said he was in touch with the transport companies mentioned and was, therefore, in a position to confirm that there was no hijack or kidnap incident involving their vehicles.

Managing Director, GUO Transport, Maduabuchukwu Okeke, had in his reaction, recalled that the same news circulated in the social media many years ago, and wondered why it was being recycled now.