Travellers along the Ibadan–Ijebu road in Oyo State were thrown into panic after suspected gunmen attacked vehicles on the route, leaving one person dead and several others narrowly escaping harm.
The incident occurred on Saturday, when armed assailants reportedly opened fire on commuters, creating chaos and forcing many to flee for safety.
Eyewitness accounts and videos from the scene showed a commercial bus riddled with bullet holes, with visible signs of blood, indicating the intensity of the attack.
Confirming the development, the spokesperson of the Oyo State Police Command, Ayanlade Olayinka, said the attackers attempted to carry out a kidnapping but were unsuccessful.
He noted that although one life was lost, no traveller was taken away by the gunmen.
“There was an attempted kidnapping, but nobody was abducted.
Inside Oyo:
Police Arrest Four Suspected Cattle Rustlers in Oyo
Police Launch Probe into Viral ‘32 Killings’ Claim in Oyo
Ibadan Tragedy: Oyo withdrew charges Against Naomi, Others
Police Arrest Suspect After Gunfight with Highway Robbers in Oyo
Police Seek Public Help to Identify Woman’s Body Found in Oyo
Two UTME Candidates Escape Kidnappers in Benue as Police Launch Rescue Operation
Police confirms death of five church members after ‘Love Feast’ in Oyo
One life was unfortunately lost,” he stated.
The attack has heightened concerns over the growing insecurity on major highways across Nigeria, where cases of armed robbery and abduction have become increasingly common.
In a related incident in Benue State, gunmen recently abducted passengers travelling along the Makurdi–Otukpo road.
However, security operatives later rescued several of the victims during a coordinated operation in Ohimini Local Government Area.
Some of those abducted were said to be candidates travelling to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), further raising concerns about the safety of citizens on inter-state journeys.
Authorities have continued to assure the public of intensified efforts to tackle insecurity, while urging travellers to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security agencies.
About the Author
