Kidnappers ambushed an 18-passenger bus bound for Ado-Ekiti on Sunday night near Emure Ile, Ondo State, Nigeria, abducting all adult passengers and the driver. The attack occurred on the outskirts of Emure-Owo as the bus was returning from Onitsha.
According to a source from the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Ado-Ekiti branch, the abductors demanded a ransom of ₦30 million per victim. The driver, identified as Sunday Emmanuel, was also among those taken.
The attackers abandoned children on the bus, whose cries attracted the attention of passersby early Monday morning. The incident was reported to the nearest police station in Emure-Owo.
“They drove the bus into the bush and dragged the passengers away,” the source revealed. “They contacted the driver’s family, and during the conversation, they demanded ₦30 million in ransom. However, they have not called back since.”
Authorities recovered the vehicle after two passengers managed to escape during the night. The RTEAN in Ado-Ekiti is reportedly strategizing on how to assist the victims and negotiate with the kidnappers.
Police have yet to release an official statement, but the community remains on high alert as efforts to rescue the abducted passengers continue.
