Victims of the robbery on the Ore-Sagamu Road on Saturday, June 11 are still counting their losses days after the ugly incident.
Passengers and commuters who were
travelling from the Benin axis on that day were allegedly handed a taste
of hell by the robbers who waylaid them at a forested area near Ore.
travelling from the Benin axis on that day were allegedly handed a taste
of hell by the robbers who waylaid them at a forested area near Ore.
A victim, Mr Edward Agbawo, who received a
hit on his neck, told SUN News that the incident happened at about 1pm. He said the
bus he was travelling in, as well as other buses, was attacked shortly
after leaving Ore, Ondo State. He said men of the Nigeria police later
arrived at the scene and scared away the robbers after the bandits had
had a field day.
hit on his neck, told SUN News that the incident happened at about 1pm. He said the
bus he was travelling in, as well as other buses, was attacked shortly
after leaving Ore, Ondo State. He said men of the Nigeria police later
arrived at the scene and scared away the robbers after the bandits had
had a field day.
In 2013, there was outrage following the
kidnap of five people on a passenger vehicle travelling shortly before
Ore. The victims’ family allegedly paid some undisclosed sums of money
as ransom before their relatives could regain their freedom.
kidnap of five people on a passenger vehicle travelling shortly before
Ore. The victims’ family allegedly paid some undisclosed sums of money
as ransom before their relatives could regain their freedom.
Last April, there was a reported incident
of armed robbery and kidnapping of passengers on an overnight journey
from Lagos to the East. The incident happened at Ore too.
of armed robbery and kidnapping of passengers on an overnight journey
from Lagos to the East. The incident happened at Ore too.
According to a victim, Innocent Godsreal,
the sad incident was allegedly committed by some robbers who admitted
that they were ex-militants. They later collected ransom and released
their victims after holding them captive deep in the forest for five
days.
the sad incident was allegedly committed by some robbers who admitted
that they were ex-militants. They later collected ransom and released
their victims after holding them captive deep in the forest for five
days.
When Godsreal walked into Daily Sun
office to tell his story, he described his experience as a real walk
through the valley of the shadow of death. “But God was with us as we
were redeemed five days later from the claws of death.”
office to tell his story, he described his experience as a real walk
through the valley of the shadow of death. “But God was with us as we
were redeemed five days later from the claws of death.”
He recalled how the bus he and his
co-travellers were riding in encountered the robbers and kidnappers at a
location near Ore when their vehicle ran into a roadblock which the
robbers had mounted.
co-travellers were riding in encountered the robbers and kidnappers at a
location near Ore when their vehicle ran into a roadblock which the
robbers had mounted.
He said the bandits robbed no fewer than
30 passengers in the bus. Then they took away five people: four men and
one lady including Godsreal deep inside the forest. The victims spent
five days in the bush. Their relatives paid a ransom before their
captors could free them.
30 passengers in the bus. Then they took away five people: four men and
one lady including Godsreal deep inside the forest. The victims spent
five days in the bush. Their relatives paid a ransom before their
captors could free them.
The incident of June 11, according to
Agbawo, happened early in the afternoon. He said everyone saw the
robbers. He recalled that the robbers intercepted the vehicles in a
commando style, forced the passengers to lie face down on the paved road
and robbed them. He said the passengers might have numbered more than
20 because they were robbing motorists on both sides of the dual
carriage way. He said while some robbed from the front, the other
bandits robbed from the rear. They threatened terrified toddlers who
were screaming, ordering the parents of such babies to keep them quiet.
It was when the robbers heard the approach of the police that they fled,
taking some people along.
Agbawo, happened early in the afternoon. He said everyone saw the
robbers. He recalled that the robbers intercepted the vehicles in a
commando style, forced the passengers to lie face down on the paved road
and robbed them. He said the passengers might have numbered more than
20 because they were robbing motorists on both sides of the dual
carriage way. He said while some robbed from the front, the other
bandits robbed from the rear. They threatened terrified toddlers who
were screaming, ordering the parents of such babies to keep them quiet.
It was when the robbers heard the approach of the police that they fled,
taking some people along.
Agbawo said: “I was returning to Lagos
from the village on that fateful day. We left Anara, Isiala-Mbano that
morning at 8am. Our driver did so well that shortly after noon, we had
reached Ore. He then pulled up at a restaurant for people to have lunch
and stretch their legs. Ore is the usual point where drivers stop to
refuel and where passengers eat.
from the village on that fateful day. We left Anara, Isiala-Mbano that
morning at 8am. Our driver did so well that shortly after noon, we had
reached Ore. He then pulled up at a restaurant for people to have lunch
and stretch their legs. Ore is the usual point where drivers stop to
refuel and where passengers eat.
“It was approaching 1pm when we left the
town and began to press for Lagos. Then we hit a long stretch of the
road, from where we could see nearly a kilometre ahead. There were about
four sprinter buses travelling ahead of us. I mean the one people call
Hummer buses. Ours was trailing but there were other vehicles behind
too. Then suddenly, two young men burst out from the forest, each
wielding a raised AK 47 riffle. They kept yelling stop, stop, ordering
the buses to stop.
town and began to press for Lagos. Then we hit a long stretch of the
road, from where we could see nearly a kilometre ahead. There were about
four sprinter buses travelling ahead of us. I mean the one people call
Hummer buses. Ours was trailing but there were other vehicles behind
too. Then suddenly, two young men burst out from the forest, each
wielding a raised AK 47 riffle. They kept yelling stop, stop, ordering
the buses to stop.
“To announce their seriousness, they
began firing sporadically into the air. Then commotion followed. There
was screeching of tyres here and there; the driver all began to stop,
with some avoiding hitting others or swerving into the bush or even
hitting the road median.
began firing sporadically into the air. Then commotion followed. There
was screeching of tyres here and there; the driver all began to stop,
with some avoiding hitting others or swerving into the bush or even
hitting the road median.
“Ours was the fourth bus in the convoy.
When our driver observed what was going on, he quickly stopped and
engaged the reverse gear. So did other vehicles behind. Everyone was
struggling to escape the scene when suddenly we began hearing gunshots
ringing out from the back.
When our driver observed what was going on, he quickly stopped and
engaged the reverse gear. So did other vehicles behind. Everyone was
struggling to escape the scene when suddenly we began hearing gunshots
ringing out from the back.
“Unknown to us, the robbers had divided
themselves into many parts. While some were in front, some were at the
back. They kept firing, so we all became helpless. That was how they
swooped on us. Some of them had guns while a few wielded machetes and
cudgels.
themselves into many parts. While some were in front, some were at the
back. They kept firing, so we all became helpless. That was how they
swooped on us. Some of them had guns while a few wielded machetes and
cudgels.
“When they stormed our bus everyone was
terrified. Then one of the robbers started breaking the vehicle glasses,
ordering the passengers out. As he broke the glasses, the broken pieces
began flying all over the place. Then pandemonium ensued as people
began scampering out.
terrified. Then one of the robbers started breaking the vehicle glasses,
ordering the passengers out. As he broke the glasses, the broken pieces
began flying all over the place. Then pandemonium ensued as people
began scampering out.
“In the course of rushing out, a
desperate passenger tripped a keg of oil in the vehicle and its contents
began to spill. In a matter of seconds, the spot we were was covered
with red oil. Without caring a hoot, the robbers asked everyone to lie
face down on the oil-covered spot, threatening to shoot anyone who dared
to disobey them. So, instantly everyone complied. Worse of all, it was
such a hot afternoon, and the paved road was emitting terrible heat; it
felt like hell and nobody dared say a word.
desperate passenger tripped a keg of oil in the vehicle and its contents
began to spill. In a matter of seconds, the spot we were was covered
with red oil. Without caring a hoot, the robbers asked everyone to lie
face down on the oil-covered spot, threatening to shoot anyone who dared
to disobey them. So, instantly everyone complied. Worse of all, it was
such a hot afternoon, and the paved road was emitting terrible heat; it
felt like hell and nobody dared say a word.
“Just as I was alighting from the
vehicle, the robber from the back hit the lower part of my neck. He was
apparently targeting my neck but missed it narrowly. Jolted, I fell to
the ground and lay face down.
vehicle, the robber from the back hit the lower part of my neck. He was
apparently targeting my neck but missed it narrowly. Jolted, I fell to
the ground and lay face down.
“While the robbers in front were raiding
us, those at the back were dealing with the people at the rear. I
observed that no vehicle was passing through the alternate lane, meaning
that they were robbing people there too.”
us, those at the back were dealing with the people at the rear. I
observed that no vehicle was passing through the alternate lane, meaning
that they were robbing people there too.”
Agbawo said as much as he knew, no life
was lost during the incident. He said he was lucky that apart from the
hit to the neck, he lost nothing substantial before the police arrived.
was lost during the incident. He said he was lucky that apart from the
hit to the neck, he lost nothing substantial before the police arrived.
“As soon as the robber came over to the
spot where I was lying, we started hearing gunshots at the back. What we
later heard was that some policemen who were alerted to the robbery
raced to the scene, and from afar, they started firing shots apparently
to scare them away. So when they heard the gunshots, the robbers bolted.
The one who was robbing us simply and leisurely walked into the bush.
Still afraid, we were lying face down until the police arrived to ask us
to stand up. Some of us were still in the position thinking that the
robbers were still in command.”
spot where I was lying, we started hearing gunshots at the back. What we
later heard was that some policemen who were alerted to the robbery
raced to the scene, and from afar, they started firing shots apparently
to scare them away. So when they heard the gunshots, the robbers bolted.
The one who was robbing us simply and leisurely walked into the bush.
Still afraid, we were lying face down until the police arrived to ask us
to stand up. Some of us were still in the position thinking that the
robbers were still in command.”
He recalled that one of the robbers’
marksmen was such a young man in his early 20s. He informed that by the
time they were gone, a man who lay beside him said minus the gun the
robber was carrying, he could have subdued the young bandit with just a
blow to the head.
marksmen was such a young man in his early 20s. He informed that by the
time they were gone, a man who lay beside him said minus the gun the
robber was carrying, he could have subdued the young bandit with just a
blow to the head.
He recalled that the fleeing robbers took
along with them some passengers, one of them a young man. The robbers
told the young to bring along the bag he was travelling with.
along with them some passengers, one of them a young man. The robbers
told the young to bring along the bag he was travelling with.
“We had concluded that they were robbers
and kidnappers. We feared that they had taken the man away only to ask
for some ransom later or to use him for some other purpose. But while
everyone was bemoaning his lot, he emerged from the forest, but without
his bag. The robbers asked him to fetch his bag which they later
collected from him,” he said.
and kidnappers. We feared that they had taken the man away only to ask
for some ransom later or to use him for some other purpose. But while
everyone was bemoaning his lot, he emerged from the forest, but without
his bag. The robbers asked him to fetch his bag which they later
collected from him,” he said.
The Police Public Relations Officer
(PPRO) Ondo State Command, Mr Femi Joseph, said he was not aware of the
incident. But he noted: “It was not impossible that our men on patrol in
the axis came handy and foiled the robbery.”
(PPRO) Ondo State Command, Mr Femi Joseph, said he was not aware of the
incident. But he noted: “It was not impossible that our men on patrol in
the axis came handy and foiled the robbery.”
The police spokesman was unhappy that the
victims didn’t report the incident. “Since it involved people on
transit, as long as everyone was safe, they probably moved on. But we
thank God that no casualty was recorded,” he noted.
victims didn’t report the incident. “Since it involved people on
transit, as long as everyone was safe, they probably moved on. But we
thank God that no casualty was recorded,” he noted.
He told the reporter that the Ondo State
Police Command had intensified action on the Ore axis, leading to the
arrest of hoodlums and kidnappers who were terrorising the area.
Police Command had intensified action on the Ore axis, leading to the
arrest of hoodlums and kidnappers who were terrorising the area.
“Just last week, we paraded the suspects
who kidnapped two reverend sisters and asked for ransom. We also
arrested one of their wives who kept their guns. We also arrested and
paraded a man who threatened to kidnap his victim if he failed to give
him the sum of N500,000. Also arrested and paraded was a man who kidnapped a bride in Ore area on the eve of his weeding.”
who kidnapped two reverend sisters and asked for ransom. We also
arrested one of their wives who kept their guns. We also arrested and
paraded a man who threatened to kidnap his victim if he failed to give
him the sum of N500,000. Also arrested and paraded was a man who kidnapped a bride in Ore area on the eve of his weeding.”
He described the June 11 highway robbery
incident in Ore as unfortunate and assured travellers of their safety.
He maintained that the police in the axis were doing their level best to
ensure that hoodlums in the area were all subdued and despatched to
jail.
incident in Ore as unfortunate and assured travellers of their safety.
He maintained that the police in the axis were doing their level best to
ensure that hoodlums in the area were all subdued and despatched to
jail.