Armed herdsmen hijack 18-Passenger bus in South-East, women, children

By Samuel Ogunsona

A disturbing incident of armed herdsmen hijacking a fully loaded 18-seater bus has occurred in Nigeria’s South-East region.

The bus, traveling from Orie Orba Market in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State to Ogbadibo Local Government area of Benue State, was ambushed by suspected Fulani herdsmen on the Enugu-Owukpa Road over the weekend.

According to locals, the attackers were armed with AK-47 rifles and laid siege to the bus at gunpoint.

An official of Benue Link Transport Service, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed the incident, stating that the bus was carrying women and children among its passengers.

“The attackers took away the female passengers, both young and adult,” the official said. One of the victims, who sustained severe gunshot wounds during the attack, was left behind due to excessive bleeding that could have compromised the abductors’ location.

The armed men allegedly attacked a female occupant, who was later left behind as she bled profusely.

Sources said the victim was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital in Okpoga, where she is receiving medical attention.

Amos Agada, the leader of the Owukpa vigilante group, confirmed the incident and warned that the patience of locals was running out.

“As at Sunday afternoon, no information had been received from the kidnappers,” he said.

The Enugu-Benue route has been a hotbed of mass kidnapping and killings over the past decade.

A police source said security operatives are combing the forest to locate the kidnappers and their victims, who may have been forced to trek for many kilometers away from the original spot of the incident.

The authorities are working to rescue the abducted passengers, but the incident has raised concerns about the safety of travelers on this route.