Travellers Feared Abducted as Gunmen Attack Buses on Owerri-Onitsha Road

OWERRI — Several travellers are feared to have been abducted after armed men suspected to be bandits reportedly intercepted two commercial buses on the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway in Imo State.

The incident reportedly happened on Thursday morning around the Umunoha axis of the road, located in Mbaitoli Local Government Area.

A source familiar with the incident, who requested anonymity, said the buses were travelling from Onitsha towards Owerri when the attackers allegedly stopped them.

The source said several passengers were taken away, although the number of victims could not immediately be confirmed.

According to the source, the attackers allegedly exploited traffic congestion caused by cattle crossing the expressway, forcing vehicles to slow down.

“The buses were coming from Onitsha side of the road; it seems they were returning from Lagos,” the source said.

“Many people were kidnapped. They usually launch attacks when their cattle are crossing the road because they know vehicles will slow down.”

The latest report comes amid allegations of recurring kidnapping incidents along the route. Some victims in previous incidents have reportedly regained their freedom after ransom payments.

The source also claimed that a man and his daughter were abducted along the same road approximately three weeks ago and later released following the payment of N29 million in ransom.

That claim, however, could not be independently verified.

Meanwhile, the Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Henry Okoye, had not responded to enquiries about the latest reported incident as of the time this report was filed.

Africans Angle News