Gunmen abduct 18 travellers in Rivers community

About eighteen passengers have reportedly been kidnapped by suspected gunmen around Omerelu community axis of the Port Harcourt-Owerri road in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.

It was gathered that the commercial bus travelling from Imo State to Rivers State was attacked on Tuesday night.

It was also learnt that the driver of the bus identified as Emeka, was shot in the leg by the gunmen while the passengers were marched into the bush.

A source identified as Dan Jumbo, who is a commercial driver, said he was driving behind the driver when the incident occured.

According to him, the driver of the attacked bus was rushed to the hospital while his vehicle was abandoned along the Omerelu-Elele axis of the road.

Jumbo said that the matter was immediately reported to the Elele Divisional Headquarters of the police force.

Confirming the development, the spokesperson of the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said the number of victims on the bus is yet to be ascertained.

She also noted that the Police has deployed some tactical team of the police force, who have begun a search for the victims.

“We have heard of it. The DPO in that area and some tactical team have rescued one of the victims. An investigation is still on, but I don’t know how many persons are involved,” Iringe-Koko added.