Ondo: Gunmen Hijack School Bus, Abduct Staff

Unknown Gunmen on Thursday morning hijacked a school bus at Oba-Ile Estate in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State.

In a commando-like style, the invaders also abducted a staff who was on duty as a chaperon to the pupils of Chimola school, located inside the estate.

Reports said gunmen, numbering about eight and riding motorcycles, swooped on the victims and forced the driver to stop the bus or get himself hurt.

It was gathered that the incident occurred around 6:45 am while the driver and the bus attendant were making the rounds to pick the Chimola’s pupils to School

An eyewitness account said the abductors, armed with guns, cutlass and other dangerous weapons, threatened to kill the driver after dragging him down from the vehicle.

The bus with vehicle registration number: Lagos LSD 853 FJ, with “Chimola Schools” boldly inscribed on it, was thereafter driven away by one of the hijackers while others moved away from the scene on their motorcycles, the source said.

Further recounting the incident, The Guardian quoted the source as saying that; “The driver and the attendant were about to pick the first student when the incident happened.

“The gunmen rounded the vehicle and came down with dangerous weapons. The driver was dragged down from the bus while one of them take the driver’s seat and drove off with the attendant in the bus.

“The whereabouts of the attendant are still unknown but we have reported the incident at the Oba ile Police station.

“This is the first time we are experiencing this kind of situation here. It is quite unfortunate.”

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Tee-Leo Ikoro, said his office is yet to receive any briefing on the incident as at press time.

He however promised to contact the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the area for confirmation of the report.