Aminat Gusanu
Gunmen suspected to be Fulani bandits have kidnapped over 12 people, including a nine-year-old child, along the Afuze-Ihievbe-Auchi road in Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State.
The incident occurred on Tuesday evening, between 6 and 7 pm, and was reported in a viral video.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that, the kidnappers hijacked an unidentified SUV with the occupants and drove them into the bush.
Three vehicles were reportedly hijacked by the gunmen.
The occupants of the first vehicle, a Toyota Sienna bus marked Kogi LKJ 464 YE, were kidnapped, including the nine-year-old child whose mother fled into the bush leaving her daughter in the vehicle.
No one was seen in the second vehicle, a Mercedes Benz ML 320 SUV, with registration number AGD 542 GU.
The occupants of the third vehicle escaped unhurt.
According to a resident from Ihievbe, who spoke to journalists on condition of anonymity, two of the abducted victims have escaped.
Members of the community’s vigilante group have combed the forests and bushes in the locality of Warrake and other communities in search of the victims.
According to a voice on the viral video, the Auchi-Afuze road is known to be a notorious route for kidnappers,the situation was however curtailed with the presence of soldiers and local vigilantes before the present resurgence.
“The passengers were ambushed with some of them, including a woman who managed to escape but could not take her daughter who is said to be about 9 years old along,” the voice added.
DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, the Edo Public Command spokesman, said he was not aware of the incident when contacted.
He said “ I am not aware of the incident “.
The vigilantes from the Ihievbe-Afuze axis are said to be in the bush on the trail of the kidnappers.
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