Gunmen, suspected to be kidnappers, carried out an attack on an 18-seater bus traveling from Abuja to Enugu along the Enugu-Ugwogo-Opi-Nsukka Road. The incident occurred on Tuesday evening at the Ekwegbe section of the 10km road, despite the presence of more than 14 military and police checkpoints.
Although the driver of the Peace Mass Transit (PMT) bus skillfully maneuvered away from the situation, preventing any kidnapping, two passengers seated in the front were unfortunately wounded by gunshots.
The injured passengers have been taken to the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, ESUT-PARKLANE, for medical treatment.
One of the passengers who recounted the ordeal to journalists described the attack as horrifying. Despite the numerous military and police checkpoints along the Opi-Nsukka-Ugwuogo-Abakpa Road, motorists still face security risks while traveling.
The passenger, Moneke Okenyi, narrated: “We were coming from Abuja to Enugu. Shortly after we branched to Opi-Nsukka-Ugwuogo Nike Road, people began to talk about the unsafe nature of the road because of the activities of kidnappers.
“After we crossed a military checkpoint located at Ekwegbe axis, we did not move more than three poles when people in the front roll started shouting ‘Jesus’, ‘Jesus’. The next thing we heard were gunshots from both front and back.
“Our driver continued despite the gunshots. The unfortunate thing is that from a mobile police checkpoint, you can see the hoodlums who appeared to be Fulanis. By the time our driver managed to get to a police checkpoint, we discovered that the bullets had hit two passengers.
“The leg of one of the passengers was badly shattered. We were all taken to ESUT-Parklane Hospital for treatment.
“Regrettably, if you report this incident, the government and police will come out to downplay the attack. It is unfortunate that despite all the promises and increased security checkpoints, motorists and commuters hardly ply the road in a week without any incident kidnapping attack.
“All the people that have been kidnapped were taken to either Kogi or Benue State and they were all Fulani bandits.”
Recall that drivers plying the route from Abakpa to Nsukka protested against the incessant abductions and killings on the road.
They called on the government and security agencies, especially the police to provide adequate security on the road.