Gunmen abduct 18 passengers

NO fewer than 18 persons travelling from Warri to Bayelsa State in a private company bus have been abducted by gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen between Evwreni and Ogor axis of the East-West  road in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State. 

The incident, which occurred last Tuesday about 5p.m., at the Evwreni axis was reported by the supervisor of the transport company.

It will be recalled that nine students,  including a Naval Officer, returning from school in Calabar, Cross River State were allegedly abducted at same axis on Good Friday eve and were released after 72 hours. 

According to a security source from the Delta State Police command, “The supervisor of the transport line name withheld reported that the one of their buses loaded with passengers from Warri to Bayelsa was blocked along the Ughelli-Patani Road, around Evwreni axis and they were all kidnapped and taken to unknown destination.

“Though contact had been made but it could not be ascertained if ransom had been demanded to secure their release.”

No kidnap took place in that axis — Delta PPRO

Contacted, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Edafe Bright said: “The issue is that the driver did not know where exactly that thing happened because he claimed that there was a kidnap.

“What we are suspecting is that if at all there was a kidnap, that thing happened in Bayelsa and not in Delta because on that route, the Area Commander and DPO went round and there was nobody that heard or experienced it. 

“But because people came to report to us, we now held the driver, who claimed that some people were kidnapped and he carried the others to their destination without reporting to the police, it became suspicious. 

“How would kidnappers kidnap some passengers and leave the others? Who were the others that he dropped at their destination.

“As I am speaking with you, the driver has been detained because his story is not clear,” he said.