Passengers escape kidnap attempt on Abuja–Lokoja highway

Passengers travelling in an 18-seater commercial bus narrowly escaped abduction on Wednesday after suspected kidnappers opened fire on their vehicle near Akpogu village along the Abuja–Lokoja expressway.

According to a resident, Danlami Hussaini, the incident happened around 7 p.m. when the armed men suddenly emerged from the bush and began shooting at the oncoming bus.

The Toyota commuter bus, which was heading from the Abuja axis of the highway, came under heavy gunfire as the attackers attempted to force the driver to stop. Fortunately, the driver managed to speed away, preventing the passengers from being captured.

According to Hussaini, the attackers aimed directly at the driver’s head but missed, with the bullet striking the driver’s left hand instead.

Despite his injury, the driver managed to speed away from the scene before pulling over at Akpogu village.

“It was the sound of the gunshot that attracted my attention because my house is very close to the highway. So immediately I heard the sound, it immediately occurred to me they were kidnappers,” he said.

Hussaini said he quickly went to the roadside and found the shaken passengers standing beside the bus. He immediately contacted community vigilantes, who arrived at the scene and rushed the injured driver to a hospital in Lokoja.

“The driver was lying on the ground by the road in a pool of his blood until when I quickly alerted some vigilantes who arrived at the scene and conveyed him to the hospital in Lokoja,” he said.

He added that the passengers later boarded a luxury bus and another commuter vehicle to continue their trip to the eastern part of the country.

A vigilante member identified simply as Suleiman also confirmed the attack. He said the driver, who sustained a gunshot wound, had been taken to Lokoja for medical attention.

He noted that the passengers were not harmed, crediting the driver’s quick thinking for preventing any abductions.

Findings revealed that gunmen frequently target motorists in the area at night, taking advantage of the bad portions of the road and a steep hill that often forces vehicles to slow down.

A police source said the local division had not yet been notified of the attack but would seek information from the vigilante group.