Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have reportedly abducted 12 passengers travelling in a Toyota bus along the Okene-Auchi road in Kogi State.

The victims, who were on their way from Abuja to Benin, Edo State, were reportedly ambushed by the assailants around noon.

According to Daily Trust, residents disclosed that among those abducted were newly-called-to-bar lawyers returning to Benin after attending their ceremony in Abuja.

An eyewitness said the gunmen forced the bus to a halt and marched all the passengers into the bush before security operatives arrived.

Reports from the area indicated that police, soldiers, and vigilantes stormed the scene shortly after the attack in a bid to rescue the victims and track down the kidnappers.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Kogi State Command, SP William Aya, said some passengers were rescued during the counter-operation.

Aya, in a statement, explained that the abductors attacked a Toyota Hiace bus belonging to Big Joe Ventures Ltd, with registration number Edo FUG 13 XY.

“During the incident, the kidnappers abducted all the 12 passengers commuting from Abuja to Benin in Edo State.

“Subsequently, the DPO Okene Division, CSP Nasir Muhammad, immediately mobilised police personnel in conjunction with the military and vigilante in pursuit of the kidnappers. In the process, eight victims including the driver were rescued.

“Efforts are still underway to rescue the remaining four victims and possible arrest of the perpetrators,” Aya said.