Gunmen Snatch Channels TV Bus In Benin, Beat & Tie Up Driver

Some gunmen have snatched a 14-seat
staff vehicle belonging to Channels
Television in Benin, the Edo State capital.
It was gathered that the white Toyota Hiace
bus, with number plate APP 98 DC, was
snatched at gunpoint at about 9pm on
Tuesday at Omoruyi Street, off Lucky Way,
in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area
of the state.
Our correspondent learnt that the gunmen,
numbering four, had trailed the vehicle with
a black Sports Utility Vehicle and seized it
shortly after it was used to convey the
Station Manager to his residence.
The driver of the bus was said to have been
tied up and beaten mercilessly by the
attackers before he was dumped at
Ogbemudia Farm, along Benin-Lagos road,
at about 10.30pm.
A staff member of the television station,
who confided in our correspondent, said
the driver of the bus was, however, able to
make contact with the management of the
station, through the assistance of some
local vigilantes in the area.
“There are four of them and they were well
armed. They came in a black jeep and
bundled the driver.
“They dumped him at Ogbemudia Farm
after beating him up. But we have reported
the incident at Oregbeni Police Division,” the
source said.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Stephen
Onwochei, said investigation had
commenced into the incident with a view to
recovering the vehicle and arresting the
perpetrators.
“We got a report about the vehicle this
morning and we are doing our investigation
to recover it,” Onwochei told our
correspondent on the telephone.