The Police in Edo, have confirmed an attack at the Igueben train station, Edo state yesterday by an unspecified number of herdsmen armed with AK 47 rifles abducting scores of passengers.
The Edo Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Chidi Nwabuzor, a Superintendent of Police (SP), confirmed.
According to him, the assailants also left many victims with severe gunshot wounds after shooting sporadically into the air and at the passengers.
“This is to inform the gentlemen of the press that today, 7th of January, 2023 at about 1600hrs, unspecified number of herdsmen armed with AK 47 rifles attacked the train station at Igueben, Edo State and kidnapped unspecified number of passengers who were waiting to board the train to Warri.
“The kidnappers who shot sporadically into the air before kidnapping some passengers left some persons with bullet wounds.
“The Area Commander Irrua, DPO Igueben Division, and men have visited the scene of crime with members of the Edo State Security Network, local vigilantes, and hunters with a view to protecting the lives and property of the remaining passengers,” Chidi Nwabuzor, police spokesperson in Edo state wrote.
Mr Nwabuzor said that preliminary findings by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the area shows that the attack was coordinated and executed by herdsmen who had previously been responsible for pockets of violence around the area.
He further confirmed that the police along with other security agencies were combing the forests in the area to rescue the abducted victims.