Security operatives in Edo State have rescued 16 passengers abducted by gunmen along the Benin–Auchi expressway, following Friday’s violent attack on commuters.
Moses Yamu, spokesperson for the Edo State Police Command, confirmed the development in a statement on Saturday, noting that a coordinated search-and-rescue mission was still ongoing.
According to eyewitness accounts captured in a viral video, the gunmen stopped an Edoline transport bus and a Toyota Corolla car, ordering nearly 18 people into the bush. The video further showed police officers arriving at the scene as stranded motorists gathered in confusion, unsure whether to continue their journeys.
Some drivers parked their vehicles, waiting for the security situation to stabilize. The eyewitness who filmed the incident encouraged travelers to move on, assuring them that police teams had already taken charge of the location.
Reports suggest that the bus passengers were traveling from Benin City to Abuja when the criminals struck, halting their journey abruptly.
While Yamu confirmed that 16 people were freed, he avoided disclosing the total number of abductees. He stated:
“The kidnapping took place on Friday at about 16:30 hrs. Sixteen of the victims have been rescued so far, as the search and rescue operation by the command in collaboration with vigilantes and hunters continues.”
The Edo Police Command has vowed to sustain its operations until every victim is accounted for and restored to safety.
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