Gunmen have abducted a driver and eight of his passengers travelling along the Emuoha/Kalabari road in Rivers State.
The incident occured when the passengers were traveling in a commercial bus from the Abali Park in Port Harcourt going to Abonema in Akuku/Toru Local Government Area of the state.
Secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Kalabari line in Abali Park, Port Harcourt, Farah George, told newsmen that the kidnap took place on Saturday night.
George said that the driver was attacked at a bad section of the road, Isreal-Ama junction, on Saturday night, whisking him and his passengers away.
He further articulated that the driver popularly known as ‘Enugu’ and his passengers had not been seen since the incident happened.
“He said, “On Saturday night, one of our drivers, popularly called Enugu, driving Wagon bus with Registration number 407 was kidnapped along Emuoha/Kalabari road.
“They kidnapped him with his passengers going to Abonema. They took off from Abali park going to Kno Abonnema.
“I think he left the park around 5 pm and there was traffic jam. Maybe that is why he got there late.”
George further claimed that the hoodlums gained access to the road, Isreal-Amua, because the local vigilantes guiding the area recently were restricted in their operations by the police.
He expressed sadness over the nonchalance of the police since the incident happened, adding, “we always report, since they are people who are supposed to enforce the law.
The Abali Park Kalabari line Chairman called on the Rivers State Governor to intervene in the security challenges along the road.
When contacted, spokesperson of the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said she would find out from the division in the area and get back to our correspondent.
She has not given feedback to our correspondent as of the time of filing this report.
There has been series of kidnappings and cases of vehicles hijacked along the road, and even after a protest by drivers calling the authorities to intervene, the menace still festered.
