Benin, Edo – In a significant development today, the Edo State Police Command, in collaboration with local vigilantes and hunters, has successfully rescued 16 out of 18 passengers abducted by gunmen in a brazen attack on Friday, September 5, 2025.

The incident, which has once again highlighted the escalating security challenges along Nigeria's highways, occurred on the Benin-Akure road, a busy thoroughfare in Edo State.

The abduction took place when armed gunmen ambushed an 18-seater bus operated by the New Edo Line Transport company and a Toyota Camry, snatching 18 lives in broad daylight.

The attack, which unfolded near the Sobe-Afuze-Auchi road in the Owan West Local Government Area, has sparked widespread concern over the region's fragile security web, with two passengers still unaccounted for as rescue operations continue.

CSP Moses Joel Yamu, the Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Police Command, confirmed the rescue of 16 victims in a statement posted on X earlier today at 12:50 PM WAT.

"Sixteen of these passengers have been rescued safely while the rescue operation by @EdoPoliceNG in synergy with vigilantes and hunters continues," Yamu wrote, referencing the initial report of the abduction.

The police have assured the public that no stone will be left unturned in their efforts to locate the remaining two victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Eyewitness accounts and social media reports suggest the gunmen executed a well-coordinated ambush, forcing the passengers into the surrounding bush at gunpoint.

A source cited by Daily Post noted that the assailants also damaged the rear of the Edo Line bus with gunfire and scattered passengers' luggage before fleeing with their captives.

The incident has ignited a flurry of reactions on social media, with users expressing both relief at the rescue and frustration over the persistent insecurity.

@SirFerdinandRogers questioned the police on the methods used to rescue the victims and demanded updates on the kidnappers' fate, while @Abass193 praised the swift response, urging authorities to "#MopDemAll" to eliminate criminality in the region.

Others, including @AsiwajuOfBenin and @EcomRaybaba , emphasized the need for the capture or elimination of the perpetrators, reflecting growing public demand for accountability.

The trending topic on X, "In broad daylight, gunmen ambushed a busy Edo highway, snatching 18 lives and exposing Nigeria's fragile security web," has amplified calls for urgent federal intervention.

Netizens like @zaddyofbenin and @HarrisonBbi18 have criticized the lack of a functional Ministry of Public Safety and Security in Edo State, pointing to the absence of a commissioner and the governor's apparent inaction as contributing factors to the security crisis.

This incident is part of a disturbing pattern of highway kidnappings in Edo State.

Just last week, two final-year students from Auchi Polytechnic and other passengers were abducted along a similar route, fueling fears that criminal networks are becoming bolder.

The Benin-Akure road, a critical artery connecting Edo to neighboring states, has increasingly become a hotspot for such attacks, echoing a 2023 abduction at an Igueben train station where security forces rescued six out of 32 victims.

Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, who assumed office in November 2024, faces mounting pressure to address the security situation.

Critics, including @ChuksEricE, have called for the reactivation of the state's emergency call center and the appointment of a commissioner for public safety, arguing that the current vacuum has emboldened criminals.

As of today, the joint operation involving the Edo State Police, vigilantes, and hunters remains active, with authorities vowing to intensify efforts to rescue the remaining victims.

The police have not yet released details on the condition of the rescued passengers or the identity of the kidnappers, but the operation's success so far has been hailed as a testament to improved coordination between security forces and local communities.

The public awaits further updates, with many hoping this incident will prompt a comprehensive strategy to dismantle the criminal networks plaguing Edo State’s highways.

For now, the rescue of 16 passengers offers a glimmer of hope amid a deepening security crisis that continues to test Nigeria’s resolve.