Gunmen kidnap 18 passengers in Ekiti, demand N540m ransom

Armed men have attacked a commercial bus and kidnapped 18 passengers in Emure Ile, Ekiti State, demanding N30m as a ransom for each of the passengers.

It was learnt that the vehicle was conveying the passengers who were on their way from Onitsha in Anambra State back to Ado Ekiti, the state capital. They were ambushed on Sunday by the gunmen.

A Road Transport Employer Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) worker at the Ekiti terminal who confirmed the incident said that the driver of the vehicle, Sunday Emmanuel, was kidnapped along with the passengers.

He said that the kidnappers contacted Emmanuel’s family and demanded the sum of N30 million ransom for each of the passengers.

It was reported that the gunmen abandoned children in the bus and it was their cries that attracted passersby in the early hours of the morning before a report was made at the nearest police station.

He said: “They drove the bus into the bush and dragged people inside the bush.

“They called the family of the driver and I pleaded to speak with the driver and after our conversation, they demanded a ransom of N30 million. They said they would call back, but they have not done so yet.

“They left some children on the bus, and it seems that some people at the farm saw the kids and alerted the police in Emure-Owo. The driver’s union in Ado-Ekiti is currently holding a meeting on how to reach out to the kidnappers.”

He added that two of the kidnapped victims escaped while they were being herded into the bush.
Efforts to get the Ekiti police command’s comment were not successful as calls to the telephone line of the Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu rang out.