Gunmen suspected to be bandits intercepted a commercial bus and kidnapped two prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps from Benue State and two others in Zamfara State.
The four victims identified as; Joseph Aondona, Sedoo Gundu, Jennifer Awashima and one Sechivir were reportedly abducted on Tuesday at the Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
It was gathered that the victims were among eight passengers travelling on a bus belonging to a Benue State transport company, Benue Links. The vehicle was, however, intercepted by bandits in Zamfara.
According to PUNCH, Jennifer’s elder sister, Sember Iorliam, said the graduate of the Benue State University was posted to Kebbi State for her one-year youth service when the vehicle she boarded from Makurdi was intercepted by the hoodlums.
“I was told that eight people were in the vehicle, including the driver. But three passengers and the driver escaped.
“It was this morning (Thursday) that they contacted me through my sister’s phone and demanded N2m from each of the victims and they said that was the final ransom.
“When the incident happened, we were able to contact the driver, who said that he had reported the incident to the police.
“We went to their bus park (Benue Links) and they confirmed to us that one of their vehicles was intercepted; they promised to get back to us. But as of this time (4.35pm), they have yet to tell us anything.
“Two of those kidnapped, male and female, were going for the NYSC orientation. Another female kidnapped is a student of the Uthman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, while the other girl was visiting her relatives. They are all Benue indigenes.”
Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, SP Mohammed Shehu, who confirmed the incident said, “When the case was reported, there was no identification of corps members. But the command has intensified efforts to rescue the kidnapped victims.”