Suspected renegade herdsmen attacked travellers waiting to board a train from Igueben in Igueben Local Government Area of the state to Warri in Delta State, kidnapping scores of them on Saturday, January 7.
The armed men reportedly shot their way into the station and continued to shoot sporadically to create panic and tension.
The Edo State Police Command on Saturday night confirmed this development in a press statement endorsed by its spokesman, Chidi Nwabuzor.
The police said the incident happened about 4.00pm 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 travellers into the bush.
The command said some of the passengers sustained bullet wounds in the process. It added that bush combing and rescue operations had begun to rescue those that were kidnapped.
The text of the statement reads:
“This is to inform the gentlemen of the press that today, 7th of January, 2023 at about 1600hrs, an unspecified number of Herdsmen armed with AK 47 riffles attacked the train station at Igueben, Edo State and kidnapped an 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 Edo State Security Network, local vigilante, and hunter with a view to protect the lives and property of the remaining passengers.
“Bush Combing operations have commenced in order to rescue the victims and arrest the fleeing kidnappers. Further development will be communicated”, the PPRO stated.
