Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers on Sunday night hijacked a commercial bus with seven passengers in Rivers State.

The hoodlums reportedly attacked the bus in the evening on their way from PortHarcourt to Omoku in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of the state.

A brother to one of the victims who reported the incident to a radio station in PortHarcourt, said, his brother and other occupants of the vehicle left PortHarcourt to Omoku by after 7:00 pm.

According to him, “They left PortHarcourt to Omoku by after 7:00 pm, I called by 8:00 pm, the phone was switched off.

“I kept trying the line but it was not reachable, later, a number called me and said, I should bring N1.5 million and I said, from where? the caller immediately switched off the phone as I asked the question.”

He, however, appealed to the security agencies and state government to ensure the victims are rescued. He urged the kidnappers to release his brother and others unconditionally as they do not have such money.

Rivers State Police Command spokesman, Nnamdi Omoni, said, he was yet to be briefed on the incident and promised to get back to our correspondent.

Meanwhile, similar incidences of kidnapping appear to be on the rise again in the oil-rich rich state after a lull.

Last month, the traditional ruler of Ikuru town, King Aaron Miller, in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, was abducted and had since regained freedom with a video from his kidnappers demanding the royal fathers and politicians to enthrone peace in the area.

Also, a senior lecturer at the Department of Linguistics and Communications Studies, Dr. Jones Ayouwo, who was abducted the same day with King Miller has also regained freedom. (Text, excluding headline, courtesy The Guardian)

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