In a positive turn of events, all 14 passengers who were previously held captive after the hijacking of God Is Good (GIG) Motors and ABC Transport buses in Kogi have been liberated from their abductors. Williams Ovye-Aya, the Kogi Police Command’s public relations officer, conveyed this welcome news to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during a telephone conversation from Lokoja.
The passengers, who endured a harrowing ordeal, were released around 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, according to Ovye-Aya. They had been seized by gunmen while en route to Abuja from Kogi during the weekend.
Initially, the kidnappers demanded a hefty ransom of N15 million for each passenger’s freedom. However, the exact circumstances surrounding their release, including whether any ransom was paid, remain undisclosed.
Ovye-Aya reassured the public, stating that all 14 individuals are in good health and will soon reunite with their families. The liberated passengers comprise 12 from GIG Motors and two from ABC Transport.
While the announcement brings relief, details regarding any arrests made in connection with securing the victims’ freedom were not disclosed by the command’s spokesperson. Nonetheless, the collective sigh of relief echoes throughout the community as the abducted passengers return home unharmed.