Unknown gunmen shoot driver dead, abduct eight passengers in Rivers

A commercial bus driver, Salvation Harry, has been killed by gunmen who ambushed him and his passengers around the Abonema/Degema/EmuohaEmuoha/Kalabari area of the East-West Road in Rivers State.

After killing the driver, who was conveying his passengers from the Mile One Park in the Doibu axis of Port Harcourt, to Buguma, the gunmen also abducted eight passengers and fled the premises.

It was gathered that the suspects took advantage of the bad portion of the road to perpetrate the crime on Saturday and later released one of the victims, who reportedly paid N150, 000.

A driver, who did not want his name in print for security reasons, lamented over the frequent attacks that had been affecting motorists plying the road.

“We had protested on the Kalabari-Emuoha-Buguma road because of the series of kidnap incidents and the shooting of our drivers and passengers.

“Even the state Commissioner of Police sent a representative. But there has been an increase in kidnapping attempts and incidents.

“Yesterday the worst happened; the miscreants killed one of our drivers, Salvation Harry and the occupants of the vehicle are in the bush with the kidnappers.

“We don’t really know what to do because we have lost confidence in the government. They cannot protect lives and property again,” the driver said.

Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, said an investigation to ensure the rescue of the travellers as well as the arrest of the abductors was ongoing.

She said, “Yes, we are aware of it and we have launched an investigation into the incident, and a manhunt to ensure the kidnappers are apprehended.”

PUNCH