Some travellers who boarded a commercial vehicle from Maraba motor park in Ilorin Kwara state to New Bussa, Niger State, were on Saturday, kidnapped by unknown gun men along Mokwa road.
Speaking with newsmen the chairman, Road Transport Employee Association of Abuja-Suleja Chapel in Maraba motor park, in Ilorin, Mr Olayinka Magaji, disclosed that the incidence happened in the afternoon.
Magaji narrated that, the vehicle, a Sharon bus, left the park with nine passengers onboard to New Bussa in Niger State, but was attacked by some gun men along Mokwa road.
The passengers, including the driver of the vehicle, simply identified as Taofeek, were abducted with some other passengers of other vehicles, which included a couple travelling in their car and were whisked into the tick forest of Kanji.
He said, the kidnappers have contacted the family of Taofeek demanding the sum of N1million before he can be released.
“The younger brother that was contacted call to informed me about the latest development. We tried to negotiate with them but they were adamant. We have been trying to gather money to secure his release. We only heard from them lastly on Sunday.
“We have been trying to get across to them but the phone number the kidnappers used in communicating with us but is not connecting. Not until they call us we can’t reach them on phone. Our driver who also spoke with us on the phone called for urgent response. He said they are beaten every time. He told us they are kept inside the game reserve at Kanji.
Magaji said, from the report they got after the incidence, the abductors came out suddenly from the bush with dangerous weapons and stopped about five vehicles heading towards New Bussa.
“All the passengers and drivers were taken away on motorcycles the kidnappers parked inside the bush. Wereported immediately to the police. I even sent some people the following day (Sunday) to see the Police DPO of the area where the incidence happened.”
He further disclosed that the matter had been reported to the police and they are still on the trail of the abductors.
Magaji said, a woman who was also one of the passengers that boarded the ill-fated vehicle was later released by the abductors, on health grounds.
The woman was said to have problem with her leg and for not able to walk while they were being moved about inside the bush she was released to find her way.
According to him, the lucky woman was the one who later returned to narrate her experience in the hand of the kidnappers.
When asked if family of the abducted passengers have been contacted, Mogaji said the kidnappers have been calling their families to negotiate individually for their release.
He added that the gun men abandoned the vehicles of their victims by the road side with all their belongings intact.
Mogaji said, the vehicles are currently at the Nigeria Army post at Kanji Dam.
While appealing to government to come to their aid, he noted that the incidence is strange to them as it has never to happened before.
