Tragedy struck in Emure-Ile, Emure Local Government Area of Ekiti State, on Sunday night when gunmen ambushed a bus traveling from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Ado-Ekiti, kidnapping several passengers, including the bus driver. The attackers, who reportedly demanded a ransom of ₦30 million per victim, left behind several children on the bus, whose cries alerted passersby and led to the police being notified.
According to reports from the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Ado-Ekiti Motor Terminal branch, the driver, Mr. Sunday Emmanuel, was among those abducted during the attack. The gunmen drove the bus into the bush, where they separated the passengers before making ransom demands. “They called the family of the driver, and after our conversation, they demanded a ransom of ₦30 million per victim,” said a source within the driver’s union. Although the kidnappers indicated they would follow up with further contact, they have not yet done so.
In a fortunate turn, two of the victims managed to escape while being forced into the bush by their captors. Meanwhile, the abandoned children were discovered early Monday morning by passersby, who immediately alerted local authorities.
Efforts to reach the Ekiti State Police Command for a comment on the ongoing investigation were unsuccessful, as calls to the Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu, went unanswered. The kidnapping has prompted an emergency meeting by the Ado-Ekiti Driver’s Union to discuss how to engage with the kidnappers.
The incident highlights the growing security concerns in the region, and authorities are continuing efforts to locate the remaining victims and apprehend those responsible for the crime.
