Seven passengers have reportedly been abducted by suspected bandits along the Eruku–Iyemero road in Kwara State, although the police said its initial information indicated that three people were kidnapped.
The reported incident occurred on Saturday evening when a vehicle carrying passengers was allegedly intercepted by suspected bandits along the road.
According to local sources, the victims were returning from a ceremony in Eruku when the attackers reportedly stopped their vehicle and abducted some of the occupants.
The sources claimed that seven passengers were taken, with a newly married couple reportedly among those abducted. However, the claim has not been independently verified.
The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, CP Adekimi Ojo, gave a lower figure, saying the information available to the command indicated that three people were abducted along the Eruku road.
“The information at our disposal indicated that three persons were abducted along Eruku road on Saturday. The exact location of the incident is not clear yet,” Ojo said.
The commissioner added that a joint security operation involving the military, police and local vigilantes had been launched to locate the victims and secure their release.
“The joint security forces, including the troops, the police and local vigilantes, are already combing the bush in that axis to secure the release of the victims. I will provide more information as soon as we get the details of the incident,” he said.
The development has raised fresh concerns over the safety of travellers along the Eruku–Iyemero axis, particularly as security agencies continue efforts to establish the exact circumstances of the incident and the number of persons abducted.
The Kwara State Police Command is expected to provide further updates as more details become available.
