GUNMEN suspected to be herdsmen have killed a yet-to-identified passenger and injured a co-traveler, a teacher when the commercial vehicle was attacked along Uvwiamuge axis of the East-West road in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.
The commercial bus belonging to a popular transport company with headquarters in Warri, Delta State, according to sources, had left Bayelsa State enroute to Warri when it was attacked. The teacher, a female serving in Patani, sustained bullet wounds on both legs.
The incident, which was said to have occurred around 5:pm on Friday, was still under investigation at the time of filing this report as the whereabouts of other passengers numbering about 16, remain unknown.
One of the victims, who escaped from his suspected kidnappers said, “We were going to Warri and we run into kidnappers and I escaped from them and run into the bush. I was in the bush for over 30 minutes until I got to where I am.
“The kidnappers took about three persons from vehicle, it was the grace of God that I had to escape.
“We are no longer safe on this road, and we are appealing to the Delta State Police Commissioner to ensure that the road is safe for travellers.
“Imagine a situation where at about 5:pm, the East/West road is no longer safe for people like us, some escaped and others were taken away.”
Though the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Edafe Bright could not be contacted but a security source from the Ughelli Area Command, who confirmed the incident said, “The police are on the trail of the hoodlums.”
Barely a week before this incident, SP Edafe Bright had in a statement revealed that some suspected kidnappers were arrested and one Ak-47 rifle was recovered.
SP Edafe Bright in the statement said, “CP Abaniwona Olufemi on resumption of duty as the 22nd commissioner of Police Delta State reacted to the incessant kidnapping in Ughelli axis, which necessitated the change in the security architecture in Ughelli, and deployed a new divisional Police officer to Ughelli Division.
“This proactive measure taken by the CP has been paying off and is still paying off as the special team has again cracked than a gang of four suspected kidnappers in Ughelli.
Acting on credible intelligence gathered over a period and an in-dept technical intelligence related to the kidnapping of one male victim (name withheld) kidnapped on 17th May 2024 at his resident in Edjekota area of Delta State and later murdered by the kidnappers.
The operatives on special assignment led by ASP Julius Robinson cracked down the deadly kidnapping syndicate responsible for the act on 01/07/2024 at about 1200hrs and arrested one Ismaila Umaru 28yrs ‘m’ of Kekura Village In Awe LGA of Nasarawa State but resident at Oghara town by Power Line, Delta State.
On 04/07/2024 at about 2030hrs the suspect led operatives to the arrest of two (2) other gang members namely Chede Mohammed ‘m’ 18yrs a native of Nasarawa State but resident of Agwara in Ughelli South LGA of Delta State and Mohammadu Sani ‘m’ 26yrs a native of Banbiru area of Abuja but resident at Upper Agbarho Area of Ughelli North.
“Acting on their confession at about 0530hrs of 05/07/2024, the operative stormed the bush by Oviri-ogor where the operatives encountered an attack from other gang members where one of the suspect hiding in the bush sustained serious gunshot injuries and was taken to the hospital where he died while receiving treatment.
“One AK 49 rifle recovered in the hideout and investigation is ongoing.
