A gang of unknown gunmen have attacked a Bayelsa to Delta bound Sunny Eru Bus along the Patani axis of the East-West road, allegedly killing the driver and abducting the Bayelsa State correspondent of the Guardian Newspaper, Mr. Osahon Olusegun and other passengers in the vehicle.
The incident happened in the evening on Sunday, March 27, 2022 while the Edo born journalist was heading to Delta State from Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
According to a source who pleaded anonymous, Osahon was on his way to Ughelli to board a train scheduled to leave for Abuja on Monday, March 28, before the unfortunate incident occupied.
He said that the kidnappers suddenly came out from the bush when the bus got to Patani axis of the East-West road and started shooting directly at the passenger bus, hitting the driver who died instantly.
It has also been confirmed that five of the kidnapped passengers (3 from Delta, 2 from Bayelsa) were miraculously released on Monday morning around 8:30am.
The source who lives very close to the reporter, disclosed that a female passenger who was among the five that was released came to their neighborhood to inform them about what happened to them and how Osahon and other passengers were held captive by the abductors.
The source said, “The journalist boarded a Sunny Eru bus on his way to Ughelli to board train bound for Abuja. The incident happened along Patani axis of the East-West road. The gunmen suddenly came out from the bush and started shooting directly at their bus. The bullet hit the driver and he died instantly.
“The girl recognized Osahon as someone she knew, and they boarded the same bus. She was in the bus with him when the gunmen suddenly came out of the bush and attacked their bus. The girl was jittery and traumatised because of the experience.
She said about five of them among the passengers in the bus were miraculously released by the bandits on Monday morning while the rest of the passengers including Osahon were still held captive.
Another source close to the family has also confirmed that the kidnappers have contacted his wife and family members and they are demanding for 5 million naira before he will be released.
Niger Delta Connect also gathered that some persons within the neighborhood decided to go to Sunny Eru terminal in Yenagoa to confirm if what the girl said was true, but discovered that the same bus that was attacked by the hoodlums has been tolled back to the terminal with bullet holes all over the bus.
Meanwhile, The leadership and members of the Federated Correspondents’ Chapel (FCC) of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bayelsa State council has received with shock the abduction of Mr Julius Osahon, Bayelsa state Correspondent of the Guardian newspaper by unknown gunmen suspected to be kidnappers along Evwreni Community near Ugheli axis of Delta State while on transit to Warri.
Read also: https://www.herald.ng/unknown-gunmen-kill-naval-officer-woman-in-kogi-state/
The chapel in a statement sent to NAIJA LIVE TV and signed by Christian Eze
(Chairman) and Bassey Willie
(Secretary) wondered why gunmen would attack one who is only discharging his responsibility as a journalist.
The chapel urges the security agents both in Bayelsa and Delta states to collaborate and ensure that Mr Osahon and all those abducted in the ill-fated bus are rescued unhurt, and the Federal and State governments to ensure that there is adequate security on our highways especially the Bayelsa and Delta axis of the East-West road.
Security situation in our nation is becoming worrisome on daily basis, innocent citizens are being killed, kidnapped and their valuables carted away by criminals, that is why we call on government to discharge its responsibility of protecting citizens’ lives and property optimally.
Journalists are not wealthy men in the society but just doing their duties to contribute to the growth and development of the nation, that is why we wonder where Mr Osahon will get N5 million demanded by the kidnappers to regain his freedom.
We pray the Almighty God to protect his young family and give them courage to manage the trauma and free him unhurt to reunite with his family.