Tragedy struck on Wednesday along the notorious Benin-Ore expressway in Ondo State as gunmen suspected to be herdsmen ambushed a commercial bus conveying university students, abducting ten and shooting two others.
The victims, members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church Campus Fellowship from Rivers State University and Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, were en route to Babcock University in Remo, Ogun State, to attend their annual Easter Convention when the attack occurred.
According to eyewitness reports, the assailants opened fire on the bus, causing chaos as students scrambled for safety.
Several managed to escape into the nearby bush, but two were shot—one of whom is currently in critical condition after undergoing emergency surgery to remove a bullet lodged in his back.
Sources close to the incident revealed that ten students remain in captivity, while others are still missing after fleeing into the forest.
The kidnappers have reportedly contacted the families of those abducted, demanding a ransom of ₦15 million for their release.
Speaking with Sahara Reporters, a source familiar with the victims expressed shock and grief, stating that some of the abducted students are close friends and relatives.
He also raised suspicions about the bus driver’s actions, questioning how he managed to escape unharmed while the students were left vulnerable.
The Benin-Ore highway has long been a hotspot for armed robberies and kidnappings, with security concerns escalating in recent months.
Despite public outcry, authorities have yet to implement effective measures to curb the rising wave of violence.
Efforts to reach the Ondo State Police Command for comment were unsuccessful, as calls to the spokesperson, Odunlami Ibukun, went unanswered and messages remain unreplied.
As the search for the missing students continues and negotiations with the kidnappers unfold, families and faith communities are calling for urgent government intervention to ensure the safe return of the victims and enhanced security on Nigeria’s highways.
