The Ekiti State Police Command has confirmed the release of at least 11 of the travellers kidnapped in transit last Sunday night by some gunmen.
All 18 passengers in the Ekiti State-bound bus were reportedly abducted along Emure-Ile/Emure Road, at the border between Ondo and Ekiti States.
Speaking on the release of the kidnap victims, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Sunday Abutu, said, “11 have regained their freedom while 7 are still with the kidnappers.”
Abutu added that efforts were underway to ensure the remaining victims were rescued.
The kidnap victims were said to be returning from Onitsha, Anambra State to Ekiti State when the kidnappers struck.
There were conflicting reports about the actual area where the incident happened as some sources said it happened at Emure-Owo in Ondo State while others claimed it occured in Emure-Ekiti, headquarters of Emure local government area of Ekiti state.
However, according to a top security source in the State, “It happened in the Owo-Eporo Road axis. Efforts are ongoing jointly by Amotekun in Ondo and Ekiti states.”
The bandits, it was gathered, were said to have kidnapped the driver, Sunday Emmanuel, alongside the passengers, demanding a ransom of N30 million on each victim.
A source, who craved anonymity, told journalists in Ado Ekiti that the kidnappers had abandoned some children in the bus, whose cries attracted the attention of passersby in the early hours of Monday, and reported the case at the nearest police station.