Tragedy struck along the notorious Benin-Ore Expressway on Wednesday as gunmen ambushed a bus carrying students from Rivers State University and Ignatius Ajuru University of Education. The students, who were en route to Babcock University in Ogun State for their annual Easter convention, were attacked in what sources have described as a horrifying ordeal.
The victims, all members of the National Association of Adventist Students (NAAS), a campus fellowship of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, were caught off guard when armed assailants opened fire on their bus. According to eyewitness reports, the attack triggered chaos, with students fleeing into the surrounding bush to escape the hail of bullets.
Two students were shot during the attack. One, who sustained a gunshot wound to the back, underwent emergency surgery and is currently in critical condition. The other victim’s condition remains undisclosed.
As of press time, at least ten students are confirmed to have been abducted by the assailants. Some of the fleeing students are still reportedly lost in the bush, their whereabouts unknown. Families of the kidnapped students have been contacted by the attackers, who are demanding a ransom of ₦15 million for their release.
A source close to the victims, visibly shaken, expressed frustration and sorrow over the incident. “These students turned out to be my fellowship students, and some are my undergraduate friends and relatives. This is deeply personal,” the source said.
In a particularly alarming twist, suspicion has been cast on the bus driver, who reportedly escaped the scene unharmed. “How did the driver manage to get away without a scratch while the students were left behind?” the source asked, echoing a growing concern among relatives and students.
This latest incident underscores the persistent insecurity along the Benin-Ore highway, a corridor that has gained infamy for repeated cases of banditry and kidnapping. Despite numerous pleas from commuters and civil society groups for increased security along the route, abductions continue unabated.
Attempts to reach the Ondo State Police Command for a statement were unsuccessful. Calls to the Command Spokesperson, Odunlami Ibukun, went unanswered, and a follow-up message has yet to receive a response.
As families wait anxiously for news, the nation is once again reminded of the urgent need for stronger security measures on Nigeria’s highways, particularly those frequented by students and other vulnerable groups.
