From Tony John, Port Harcourt
A 16-seater commercial bus has been hijacked at Omoku town, the headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA) by gunmen and taken to an unknown destination. The gunmen were said to have abducted the 16 passengers on board the Hummer bus and set the vehicle ablaze.
This is as violent clash occurred between armed cultists and security men. In the encounter. One soldier was said to have been wounded, while another Corporal identified as James Okwudinani was also shot in his hand. He was, however, evacuated to the Military Hospital, Port Harcourt, for medical attention.
Sunday Sun gathered that the bus took off from Port Harcourt, heading to Omoku, but was intercepted by the gunmen at a bad spot in Ama community, diverted the bus to the nearby bush and set it on fire.
Reacting to the incident, Vice President of Omoku Youth Association, Comrade Agbabere Emeka, condemned the nefarious activities of the hoodlums.
He disclosed that shortly after the incident, policemen stormed the scene and accosted two boys who were coming out from the bush. While resisting police arrest, he said, one of the two boys was shot in the leg, while the other escaped.
According him, the wounded suspect was taken to a hospital in Omoku for medical attention, but the gang members stormed the centre and rescued him.
Emeka appealed to armed youths in ONELGA to sheathe their swords and embrace peace, admonishing them that without peaceful environment, development would elude the area.
He chided the policemen that took the wounded suspect to hospital without detailing one of their colleagues to be at the hospital. “In such a circumstance, they (policemen) should have detailed another policeman to be at the hospital. At least, that one in the hospital would have been useful in apprehending others,” he opined.