The Edo State Police Command has said that an unspecified number of travelers waiting to board a train from Igueben in Igueben local government area of the State, to Warri in Delta State, were kidnapped by suspected armed herdsmen.

The Command, in a press statement endorsed by its spokesman, Chidi Nwabuzor, noted that the incident occurred at about 4.00 pm on Saturday. According to the statement, the suspected herdsmen, who were armed with AK-47 rifles, invaded the train station and shot sporadically into the air before herding an unspecified number of intending travelers into the bush. The statement added that in the process, some of the passengers sustained bullet wounds, just as the Police disclosed that bush combing and rescue operations had begun to rescue the victims and arrest the criminals.

“The kidnappers who shot sporadically into the air before kidnapping some passengers left some persons with bullet wounds. The Area Commander, Irrua; the DPO (Divisional Police Officer) Igueben Division, and their men have visited the scene of the crime with members of Edo State Security Network, local vigilantes, and hunters to protect the lives and property of the remaining passengers.

“Bush combing operations have commenced to rescue the victims and arrest the fleeing kidnappers. Further development will be communicated,” the Police statement explained.

Ada Peter