Gunmen have abducted 18 travellers in Ondo State. The victims were abducted on Wednesday night along the Ifira-Akoko/Idoani road in Akoko South East Local Government Area of the state. The abductors were said to have fired gunshots into the air to scare the passengers before taking them into a nearby forest.
The assailants reportedly attacked the bus along the Idoani-Ifira Akoko axis in the northern senatorial district of the State.
It was gathered that the gunmen fired their weapons to scare away villagers and other motorists who fled into nearby bushes.
An eyewitness said that the victims were dispossessed of their belongings and personal effects before they were whisked away into the forest.
The Divisional Police Officer, DPO, for Isua Akoko Division, CSP Hakeem Sadiq confirmed the incident, adding that the anti-kidnapping unit of the police command, as well as other security agencies, have deployed personnel to rescue the abducted travellers.
Meanwhile, a source close to one of the victims revealed that the kidnappers had contacted them, demanding N10 million ransom for their release.