By DADA AYOKHAI
Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers on Tuesday hijacked vehicles plying the Afuze ihievbe road in Owan East LGA and made away with over 12 persons.
According to reports the incident happened between 6pm and 7pm on Tuesday.
A resident from Ihievbe who spoke on condition of anonymity, however, said nine persons were kidnapped while two persons escaped.
He said members of vigilante group in the locality have combed off forestry and bush in the locality, Warrake and other communities in rescue of the victims.
It was gathered that the victims including a child of about nine years old were kidnapped in a sienna bus.
According to a viral video with a voice over reported that the kidnappers took over the not too busy road in a commando style, hijacked a jeep with the occupants and drove into the bush.
The voice over, also reported that another upcoming car was lucky to have sighted the kidnappers,park his car and escaped into bush.
He added that sienna bus, was, however, unfortunately as it ran into the hands of the kidnappers.
“The passengers were ambushed with some of them which includes a woman who managed to escape but could not take her daughter who is said to be about 9years old along.
“The vigilantes from the Ihievbe- Afuze axis are said to be in the bush on trail of the kidnappers.
“The Auchi Afuze road is known as as a notorious route for kidnappers, but the situation was, however curtailed with the presence of soldiers and local vigilantes before the present resurgence.
In the viral video, three vehicles were said to be hijacked by the gunmen. ML 320 Jeep with
registration number AGD 542 GU non of the occupants were inside,an indication that they might have been kidnapped.
In a Sienna Jeep with registration number Kogi LKJ 464 YE with about 10 occupants were said to be kidnapped including a nine year old child whose mother’s was the only person that escaped into the bush.
In the third vehicle the driver and the occupants were said to have escaped unhurt.
When contacted the image maker of the Edo State Police command, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor said he was not aware of the incident.
