Criminals suspected to be herdsmen have reportedly shot dead a naval warrant officer, identified as Felix Akanbi, and abducted 17 others in Edo State.
The suspects were alleged to have kidnapped 18 passengers including the naval officer who were traveling from Akwa- Ibom to Lagos enroute Edo State.
It was gathered that the kidnappers intercepted the 18- seater bus between Ekiadolor and Ovia River bridge after dispossessing all the passengers of their belongings, including cash and handsets.
It was further learnt that eight of the passengers were immediately matched into the bush, leaving other ten passengers behind.
According to report, the suspected herdsmen who were four in number and armed with AK47 rifles opened f i re on the 18- seater bus along the BeninLagos Highway.
The report further had it that as the kidnappers were taking the victims to their camp in the Ovia forest, the warrant officer who could not walk as fast as others was shot and killed by the abductors.
I t was also learnt that men of the divisional police headquarters in charge of Ekiadolor, however, rescued the other 17 passengers.
The police division was said to have mobilised its men to go after the kidnappers and they combed up the bush for over two hours before they were able to rescue the 17 victims and recovered the lifeless body of the naval officer.
Confirming the incident, spokesperson of Edo police command, Chidi Nwabuzor, said the police were combing the bush in search of the kidnappers.
Nwabuzor, added that the warrant o fficer was close to his retirement before his untimely death. He said the police would do everything to fish out the kidnappers.
