Gunmen have reportedly claimed the life of a commercial bus driver and have held eight commuters hostage in Rivers state. According to reports, the driver of the bus that was attacked had moved his passengers on water from the Mile One park in the Diobu area of Port Harcourt. The bus was waylaid on its way to Buguma.
It was gathered that the gunmen shot the driver sporadically till he lost his life. The gunmen were alleged to have taken away eight passengers into a forest while shooting into the air to scare people off. They are said to have patted with the abducted persons without any form of obstacle. A source stated that one of the hostages had been set free after a ransom of one hundred and fifty thousand was paid. The whereabouts of the other hostages is however still unknown.
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Reports gathered indicates that some drivers who drive along that route had protested against the incessant attacks along that road but they did not get any effective response till it claimed the life of one of them. One of them said that some security agents were deployed to watch the road but nothing has changed. The Commissioner of police was said to have sent a representative to the area which was complained about but the kidnap has increased even after then.
One of them said, “We don’t really know what to do because we have lost confidence in the government. They cannot protect lives and property again”. The drivers expressed their dissatisfaction in the concern that the government had shown to the issue. They were seriously grieved by the loss of one of their members. They also stated that they were concerned as to what the hostages would be going through at the time.
They implored the government to take effective measures against the insecurity along that route and in the country generally.
