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SAD! GUO Transport confirms driver k!lled in bandits attack
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GUO Transport Company has confirmed that a driver of one of its buses shuttling passengers from Lagos to Abuja was killed in an alleged attack by some suspected gunmen along the Ikare-Akoko Road of the Akure Expressway on Friday.
The management of the transport firm, in a statement posted on its official Facebook page on Sunday, added that other passengers, except a three-year-old child, were allegedly kidnapped along the corridor.
A senator, Ned Nwoko, had earlier shared the news of the alleged attack on the GUO bus on yesterday via his verified X handle, @Prince_NedNwoko, saying that the hoodlums abducted all the passengers but left an infant inside the vehicle.
Though the senator failed to mention the location of the attack, he emphasised the need for the government to allow its citizens to bear arms for self-protection.
The senator wrote, “This was reported to have happened to GUO on Saturday.
They killed the driver, left the small girl there, and kidnapped all the passengers. This is the reason for the law on self-defence.
“If the driver had a gun or any of the passengers, the kidnappers wouldn’t certainly have their way.
The only thing they have that good and law-abiding citizens don’t have are guns. The passengers might never be rescued, and just imagine the poor little girl who will be traumatised for life.”
Also, in a short WhatsApp video seen by PUNCH Metro on Sunday, a voice was heard saying, “This bus is coming from Lagos. We stopped together at Akure and ate.”
While confirming the attack on Sunday, the statement by the company read, “GUO Transport Co. wishes to use this medium to confirm that there was a bandit attack on one of our buses en route to Abuja from Lagos.
“The unfortunate incident occurred at about 3:15 pm on Friday, February 9, 2024. Along the Ikare-Akoko area of the Akure Expressway, the kidnappers ambushed and attacked oncoming vehicles, among which was one of the Hiace buses from Lagos with passengers onboard.
“This unfortunate event led to the death of our driver at the crime scene, while our passengers are believed to have been held hostage and led into the bush. A child of about three years old was rescued from the scene and handed over to the military personnel on the ground while the family has been contacted.
“Our prayers are with those directly or indirectly affected by this unfortunate incident.
“While we empathise with the families of our slain driver and the families of our kidnapped passengers, we are cooperating with security agencies to ensure a quick and sore release or rescue of our passengers.
“We appreciate the prayers, advice, understanding, and support of the security agencies, our staff, our passengers, and the public at this critical moment.
“We also appeal to the government and security agencies to intensify efforts to make our highways safe again.”
All efforts to reach the Force Public Relations Officer proved abortive as he neither picked up his call nor responded to a text message sent to his mobile phone.
This is the second attack on a commercial transport company bus within two weeks. A few days ago, it was widely reported that passengers travelling in two buses from the South-East part of the country to Abuja had been kidnapped on the Inele-Eteke Ogugu new road in the Kogi East senatorial district of Kogi State.
The buses said to belong to the God Is Good and ABC Transport companies, heading to Abuja, were abducted by kidnappers on Saturday.
However, the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Ovye, reportedly confirmed their release, saying, “I have just been informed by the DPO that all the kidnapped victims of God Is Good Motors, and ABC have regained their freedom.”
Meanwhile, mixed reactions have begun to trail the call by Nwoko for Nigerians to be allowed to bear arms for self-defence.
While some Nigerians on X supported the idea, others opined that the country was yet to attain that level and thereby urged the government to wake up to its responsibilities.
An X user, @francis_ranco, wrote, “You are right on this, Oga. Self-defense is the most effective way of preserving oneself. Nigerians must be allowed to defend themselves. If the government fails to adhere to this, dem go explain tire later!”
@flourish007 wrote, “I agree with you here, Mr. Senator, because one of the main reasons citizens should be allowed to carry firearms for self-defense is the fundamental right to protect themselves and their loved ones from harm.
In situations like this one where law enforcement isn’t available, individuals, including the driver and passengers, should have the means to defend themselves from potential threats.”
@lord_OboteAyo, on the other hand, said, “A country where small anger leads to chaos, e.g., road rage, some people committing crime at will, and you want to legalize firearms, you want to encourage more armed chaos? What happened to better security?”
@holardamolar said, “We need a working government, not guns.”How do you not see it? People are suffering heavily, and it’s inevitably skyrocketing the rate of social vices out there. Giving guns to the current Nigerians will only worsen the situation; the death rate will skyrocket, I promise you.”
A 46-year-old man posing as a medical doctor, who identified himself as Osazee Okungbowa, has been arrested by the Edo State Police Command.
Okungbowa was arrested after a woman he allegedly assisted during childbirth reported to the police that her baby was missing.
He was paraded alongside 44 other suspects, including alleged kidnappers, cultists, armed robbers, and murder suspects, by the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, on Friday.
Parading the suspects, Agbonika said they were arrested through intelligence-driven operations and coordinated tactical responses carried out across the state during the period under review.
Providing a breakdown of the arrests, the police commissioner said 15 suspected cultists, three suspected armed robbers, 11 murder suspects, and 14 suspects linked to rape and defilement cases were apprehended.
He said the command had intensified operations against kidnappers, cultists, armed robbers, and other violent criminals through enhanced intelligence-led policing.
According to him, the command’s determination to ensure that criminal elements have no hiding place in Edo State has been strengthened by sustained efforts that continue to yield significant operational successes.
He said: “The accomplishments we showcase today are the outcome of the commitment, professionalism, and selflessness of officers of the Edo State Police Command, working in close collaboration with other security agencies and with the patriotic support of the public.
“Within the period under review, a total of 45 suspects involved in violent crimes were arrested.
“These achievements underscore our unwavering resolve to rid Edo State of criminal elements and demonstrate that the command remains proactive, responsive, and relentless in confronting every form of violent crime.
“As we continue the fight against criminality, I sincerely thank the law-abiding citizens of Edo State for their continued cooperation and confidence in the police. The timely information, intelligence, and assistance we receive from members of the public remain crucial to our operational successes.”
Speaking on his arrest, Okungbowa said: “I am a clinic doctor and the manager of Grace Health Nursery and Maternity. The owner of the hospital is licensed and employs both qualified and unqualified staff.
“On that day, a man identified as Mr. Godwin brought a pregnant woman to the hospital and informed me that she was due for delivery. I was unwell at the time and told them I could not handle the delivery.
“I then called a colleague to assist at the facility. According to her, the woman agreed, and she delivered the baby the following day. After the delivery, the nurse said the baby was premature and should be taken to an incubator, but the baby later died.
“I was trained as an auxiliary nurse in 2003 and have worked in different hospitals as a health assistant.”
Kidnapped victims from Estako West Local Government Area of Edo State have narrated how they escaped from their abductors, stressing that they escaped after their abductors slept off.
Speaking on behalf of other victims at the Edo. State Police Command Headquarters during a parade of the suspects, Braimah Destiny said their abductors became tired after making them (victims) walk all night.
Braimah, who narrated that he was returning from the farm when he ran into six men armed with guns and cutlasses, disclosed that the kidnappers abducted 10 other persons and took them into the forest.
He narrated, “I was coming from the farm when I met six of them armed with guns and matchets. They also captured others making us 11 victims. They took us from one bush to another. It was around 6:00PM and we heard the police shooting. They made us walk throughout the night. We got to a place and they told us to hide. They were very tired and they slept off.
“That was how we helped ourselves and ran away. We ran to the police station and went to meet the police. The kidnappers beat us and maltreated us.”
Another victim, Gloria Inyanugbo, who identified her abductors said she spent four days at the kidnappers’ den before her husband paid N3m for her release.
“I was kidnapped on the 12th of January when I was working inside the farm. They asked how much I have in my account after taking me inside the bush. I spent four days. until my husband raised N3m and another N300,000 to buy hard drugs, food and other items.
“Community vigilante nabbed two of them inside the bush and the police arrested the other through tracking. I saw one of them that boasted that nobody can do him anything. I can’t imagine the police could.arrrest them.”
A woman identified as Nana Batula and her two children have regained their freedom after spending about one month in the custody of armed bandits in Zamfara State.
The victims were abducted on May 30, 2026, when suspected bandits reportedly attacked their family home in Tsafe Local Government Area of the state.
During the attack, the assailants allegedly killed Batula’s husband, Sagir Umar, before abducting his wife and their two children.
Security analyst Bakatsine confirmed the family’s release in a post shared on July 1, 2026.
A source close to the family also confirmed that the victims had returned safely, expressing gratitude for their release after weeks in captivity.
According to the source, Nana Batula and her children are currently receiving medical attention and psychological support following their ordeal.
Police have yet to issue an official statement on the circumstances surrounding their release.
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