Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Edo State Police Command has disclosed that scores of passengers waiting to board a train from the Igueben station in Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State to Warri in Delta State were kidnapped by suspected herdsmen on Saturday evening.
The command’s spokesperson, Chidi Nwabuzor, who disclosed this in a statement on Saturday evening, said many of the travellers also sustained gunshot wounds.
According to the statement, the abductors, armed with AK 47, invaded the train station and shot sporadically into the air before abducting scores of intending travellers into the bush.
Nwabuzor added that operatives were on the trail of the abductors with the aim to rescuing those the victims.
“This is to inform the gentlemen of the press that today, 7th of January, 2023 at about 1600hrs, unspecified number of herdsmen armed with AK 47 rifles attacked the train station at Igueben, Edo State, and kidnapped unspecified number of passengers who were waiting to board the train to Warri.
“The kidnappers who shot sporadically into the air before kidnapping some passengers left some persons with bullet wounds. The Area Commander Irrua, DPO Igueben Division, and men have visited the scene of crime with members of the Edo State Security Network, local vigilantes, and hunters with a view to protecting the lives and property of the remaining passengers.
“Bush combing operations have commenced in order to rescue the victims and arrest the fleeing kidnappers. Further developments will be communicated,” Nwabuzor stated.
The development comes almost a year after bandits attacked Abuja-Kaduna train, which resulted in the death of 14 passengers and abduction of 65 others.
