Edo Police Command confirms rescue of 16 kidnapped passengers in Edo

The Edo State Police Command said on Saturday that its operatives have rescued 16 of the passengers kidnapped by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers abducted earlier.

It was gathered that gunmen on Friday kidnapped the occupants of an 18-seater bus belonging to the New Edo line transport company and that of a Toyata Camry on the Benin-Auchi-Abuja road.

The accident reportedly happened at Sobe area of the road in Owan West local government of the of the state.

It was learnt that the gunmen who laid ambushed on the road intercepted the Abuja-bound bus and the Toyota Camry at a gun point and whisked the occupants into the bush.

A community source said the kidnappers after forcing the vehicle to a halt, dragged the passengers through a bush path into forest.

He said shortly after the incident, a team of security comprising police, Army, local vigilante and hunter went for bush combing to rescue the victim on hurt.

The spokesperson of the Edo State police command, CSP Moses Yamu, confirmed the incident.

He said the kidnapping took place on Friday but the police have so far rescued 16 of the passengers unhurt.

He assured that the police would leave no stone unturned to rescue others, as rescue operation is still on going.