By Sabiu Abdullahi
Some passengers abducted along the Itobe-Ajegwu-Anyigba Road in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State have regained freedom after escaping from their captors inside a forest.
The incident occurred on Saturday after armed men reportedly attacked two commercial buses conveying passengers along the route.
One of the affected vehicles reportedly bore Ebonyi registration number NKE 737 XA.
Sources said the attackers also seized a motorcycle rider and took him away with the passengers to an unknown location.
A resident of the area, Ahiaba Michael, said local vigilantes, hunters and security personnel launched a search operation shortly after the attack. However, the gunmen escaped with the victims.
Security sources later disclosed that operatives arrested a suspect, identified as Monday Agi, about three hours after the incident.
According to the source, the suspect allegedly became stranded in the area due to pressure mounted by security operatives during the search.
The source said: “When interrogated, the suspect claimed to be on board of a trailer from Ekiti, but decided to alight around the scene of the incident to continue the journey by trekking to his destination.
“He said when he heard gunshot, he decided to flee into the bush with two herders whom he claimed he did not know.”
The source added that the suspect remains in police custody while security agencies continue efforts to track down the kidnappers.
Meanwhile, three victims identified as Micheal Adejo, Monday and Mariam Yakubu narrated how they escaped after their abductors slept off in the forest.
The victims said the gang consisted of about 10 armed men carrying AK-47 rifles and pump-action guns.
One of the escapees said: “The bus I boarded suddenly ran into their barricade. On stopping, they filed us out, wielding AK 47 rifles and pump Action guns . The second bus behind us was shot at and the driver rammed into cashew trees. All of us were taken to the bush thereafter.
“On our way, we were stopped, and asked to lay face down. In the process, they searched our pockets and evacuated everything in it , including, money, our cell phones and other valuables. We are many , all passengers from two Hummer buses.”
Another escapee, identified as Adaji, explained how they managed to flee from the forest.
“When I noticed that the hoodlums closer to my position started sleeping , I started crawling gradually. After a distance was covered, I got up ,and with luck I ran until I reach a village with these two others,” said Adaji.
Efforts to get a response from the spokesperson of the Kogi State Police Command, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, were unsuccessful as calls and text messages sent to her were not answered as of the time of filing this report.
