A group of armed individuals perpetrated a daring attack and looting on a luxury bus at Oke Ado Junction in Ijebu-mushin, along the Ijebu-Ode-Benin Expressway on Saturday.
Reports indicate that the passengers were en route to the southeast to observe Easter festivities when the incident unfolded.
Following the successful robbery of the passengers, the hoodlums opted to set the bus ablaze.
SP Omolola Odutola, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, confirmed the incident to reporters on Monday.
Odutola stated, “The incident occurred at Oke Ado junction in Ijebu Mushin. A luxury Mercedes Benz bus was destroyed by fire. The vehicle was traveling from Maza Maza before encountering the hoodlums. No mention of firearms was made; the hoodlums were armed with cutlasses.”
The bus, which could accommodate 59 passengers, was reportedly operated by Ifesinachi Transport Limited.
In a video circulated on social media, some of the affected passengers courageously recounted their ordeals.
They detailed their confrontation with the hoodlums, who not only stole their possessions but also set the bus ablaze.
One passenger recounted, “We were traveling with Ifesinachi Motors at night to return to the East for Easter festivities, and we were attacked by criminals in Ijebu Ode along the Ore-Benin Expressway.
“They robbed us of everything we had, some were even stripped half-naked. They confined us inside the 59-seater luxury bus and set it on fire. We're grateful that we managed to escape later; fortunately, no fatalities occurred, but we lost all our belongings.
“Thankfully, no lives were lost, but we lost all our belongings and some sustained injuries.
“This is the Ifesinachi Motors bus we were traveling in on Friday night, and this attack occurred around 2 am.
“They stripped some of us half-naked. As you can see, the people in the vehicle are completely stranded. Some individuals were macheted, and others suffered broken limbs. We even have children among us.”