Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Benin City, Edo State — At least 11 travellers abducted by armed gunmen along the Benin–Lagos Expressway have been rescued by police operatives, but the attack that prompted the rescue left one bus driver dead and two passengers still unaccounted for, in one of the latest dramatic episodes in Nigeria’s worsening highway insecurity.
The incident occurred late on December 20, 2025, when a group of armed assailants ambushed vehicles on the busy expressway near Isiuwa, firing on motorists and forcing travellers into the surrounding bush. Reports indicate the attackers first opened fire on an Audi car loaded with plantains, injuring or killing its driver, before targeting a Toyota Hiace bus conveying passengers from Lagos to Akwa Ibom.
In the ensuing chaos, the gunmen abducted multiple passengers, prompting urgent responses from the Edo State Police Command and other security agencies. Swift mobilisation by police led to an intensive rescue operation that ultimately recovered 11 of the abducted victims alive. The rescued individuals, whose names were released by authorities, included Alhaji Mustapha Urmar, Queen Ogbowan, Blessing Ofem, Gift Sunday, Asngua Adakama, Ime Edet, Abasi Okon Nduye, Blessing Augustine Akpan, Thomas Kollins, Happiness Moses and Victoria Nkemie.
The injured driver of the Hiace bus, Ubong Edet Okon, was rushed to Igbinedion University Teaching Hospital, where medical personnel later confirmed his death. His remains are now in the hospital morgue for autopsy and identification.
Despite the successful rescue of the majority of the kidnapped passengers, two individuals remain missing, and ongoing bush-combing and search operations are being conducted by police and allied units to locate them and apprehend the attackers. Authorities have appealed to the public to provide credible intelligence to assist in tracking down those responsible, stressing that every lead is critical in such remote and forested areas.
Security analysts say the attack underscores the persistent threat of highway kidnappings and armed ambushes along major transportation corridors in southern Nigeria, where criminals exploit poorly policed stretches to seize travellers for ransom. The Benin–Lagos Expressway, a key link between the South-South and South-West regions, has been repeatedly cited in multiple incidents where motorists are targeted, vehicles are stopped and passengers abducted, often in rapid succession with limited immediate security presence.
Local residents and frequent commuters on the route have expressed alarm and frustration at the frequency of such attacks, noting that many travellers now face heightened anxiety and the prospect of violent encounters just for using the country’s principal roads. Business operators and transport unions have urged the federal and state governments to intensify security patrols, deploy rapid response units, and invest in advanced surveillance and communication technologies that might deter would-be attackers or speed up interventions when ambushes occur.
The Edo State Police Command, while confirming the rescue, reiterated its commitment to safeguarding lives and property. Command officials stressed that coordination with military units, local vigilantes and community informants plays a critical role in both preventing such attacks and enabling swift action once they take place. They also cautioned travellers to remain vigilant, report suspicious movements promptly, and avoid isolated stretches without accompaniment or security escorts when possible.
The deadly ambush and partial rescue come amid a broader pattern of kidnappings and violent crime across Nigeria, where armed groups continue to exploit gaps in policing and uneven security coverage. Recent years have seen hundreds abducted across multiple states — from the Northwest, North-Central and South to the Southeast — with many incidents involving travellers on highways, rural commuters and marketgoers. Data compiled by independent trackers and human rights organisations have linked such attacks to increased mortality and displacement rates, reflecting a deepening national security crisis.
Families of the rescued travellers have welcomed their return but are grieving for the lost driver and remain anxious about the fate of those still missing. Loved ones of the unaccounted passengers have appealed for accelerated search efforts, urging authorities not to relent until every victim is accounted for and brought to safety.
The attack and rescue operation once again spotlight the urgent need for sustained, well-resourced security strategies that can respond effectively to the evolving threat of highway kidnappings, including intelligence-driven enforcement, community engagement and targeted counter-kidnapping operations. As the festive season intensifies travel and road usage across Nigeria, the government’s ability to protect vulnerable travellers remains under intense public scrutiny.
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