Suspected Fulani kidnappers have allegedly killed a commercial motor driver, identified as Oluwatosin Aruwajoye, and abducted five of his passengers along the Onigaari axis of the Lagos-Ibadan highway.
Another person, Ibrahim Tiamiyu, was said to have been shot in the thigh while one of the passenger managed to escape from the scene of the abduction which reportedly occurred at about 6 am.
It was gathered that the passengers boarded an eight-seater ash colour Toyota Sienna bus with registration number MUS 493 HH from Ibadan and were on their way to Lagos State when the kidnappers suddenly emerged from the bush on the roadside at Onigaari and started shooting sporadically.
The driver, who sensed their presence and tried to manoeuvre his way through, was immediately shot dead at close range, while Tiamiyu, one of the passengers was shot in the thigh.
On getting information about Tiamiyu, the brother of the injured victim reportedly rushed to Toll Gate Division of the Nigeria Police where he reported the case.
Police operatives from the Oyo State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Squad and the Toll Gate Police Division were said to have moved to the scene of the crime immediately they got the information and rushed the injured victim to the hospital for treatment.
Several police operatives were said to have combed the bush in a move to rescue the victims and apprehend the perpetrators.
The driver’s corpse was subsequently deposited in the mortuary at Adeoyo State Hospital, Ring Road.
Meanwhile, the kidnappers have demanded N30million as a ransom for the female victim among the kidnapped.
The kidnappers made the call to a female relation of one of the victims based in Lagos not too long after the abduction.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Adewale Osifeso, confirmed the incident which he described as unfortunate.
The PPRO said that there would be an update in due course as investigations are still ongoing.
