Kidnappers Hijack Bus, 18 Passengers Along Port Harcourt-Owerri Road

Suspected kidnappers have hijacked a fully loaded commercial bus conveying eighteen passengers along Port Harcourt-Owerri road at Omurele community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.   It was learnt that a commercial bus driver identified as Emeka, popularly called Car Wash who plies the route returning from Owerri to Port Harcourt with 18 passengers and his conductor when they were ambushed at gunpoint on Wednesday night.   Another commercial driver who plies the same route and was driving behind the victims explained that armed kidnappers, last night, shot the driver in the leg.   He added that the kidnappers abandoned the driver in the pool of his blood as they diverted the passengers onboard into a nearby forest.   The eyewitness, who gave his name as Dan Jumbo, said the victim was immediately rushed to the hospital for medical attention while his vehicle is still abandoned within the pipeline area along the Omurele-Elele axis of Port Harcourt-Owerri road, adding that the matter has been reported to Elele Division.   He said: “There is this 18-seater bus coming from Owerri and getting to Omerelu, the pipeline area, some group of men suspected to be kidnappers came out from the nearby bush and shot the driver in his leg, leaving him unconscious while they took other passengers into the bush.   “The armed men left the bus and carried 18 passengers including the bus conductor and left the driver because he could not walk.   “They took them to the forest the leads to Umudioga on the right side of the road if one is coming from Owerri.”   When contacted, the Rivers State Police Command said it is yet to confirm the incident.