Gunmen shoot commercial bus driver dead, abduct passengers in Rivers

Some yet-to-be identified gunmen have shot dead a commercial bus driver, Salvation Harry, during an ambush around the Abonema/Degema/EmuohaEmuoha/Kalabari area of the East-West Road in Rivers State.

After killing the driver in the ambush, the assailants were said to have abducted eight passengers of the bus, who were being conveyed from Mile One Park in the Doibu axis of Port Harcourt, to Buguma.

Speaking on the incident, a driver who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said criminals have been targeting motorists as they often take advantage of the bad roads in the area.

“We had protested on the Kalabari-Emuoha-Buguma road because of the series of kidnap incidents and the shooting of our drivers and passengers.

“Even the state Commissioner of Police sent a representative. But there has been an increase in kidnapping attempts and incidents.

“Yesterday the worst happened; the miscreants killed one of our drivers, Salvation Harry and the occupants of the vehicle are in the bush with the kidnappers.

“We don’t really know what to do because we have lost confidence in the government. They cannot protect lives and property again,” the driver added.

Confirming the incident, Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Grace Iringe-Koko, promised that the abductors would soon be apprehended and brought to Justice.

She said, “Yes, we are aware of it and we have launched an investigation into the incident, and a manhunt to ensure the kidnappers are apprehended.”

The police spokesperson added that an investigation has been launched to facilitate the rescue of the kidnap victims.