Unknown gunmen have diverted a commercial eighteen-sitter bus alongside the passengers into a forest around Omurelu-Elele axis of the Owerri road in Rivers State.
This is coming barely 24 hours after 14 travellers lost their lives at the Ogbakiri axis of the East-West road.
Our correspondent gathered that the eighteen-sitter Hiace bus was travelling from Owerre in Imo State to Port Harcourt when they were ambushed by suspected kidnappers around Omurelu-Elele new road.
The Commander of IG Monitoring Unit in Rivers State, BENNETH IGWE who confirmed the development in a telephone conversation with our correspondent said the incident happened in the early hours of Friday.
IGWE who is Deputy Commissioner of Police stated that efforts are being made to rescue the kidnapped victims unhurt with his team leading the operation.
The commander of the IGP Monitoring Unit also disclosed that the dead body of a Catholic Priest who was kidnapped two weeks ago has been recovered after the kidnappers collected ransom from the family of the victim.
Meanwhile, a source from Omurelu told our reporter that mass arrest is ongoing in the community which she said may not be unconnected to the latest developments in the area.
Rivers State Police command is yet to confirm the situation in Omurelu and Elele communities in Ikwerre Local Government Area.
