Two buses carrying passengers from Lagos to Onitsha, Anambra State, and Owerri, Imo State, were reportedly attacked by armed men who robbed the occupants and abducted them into a nearby bush along the Owerri–Onitsha Expressway in the early hours of Thursday, October 1, 2026.
The incident reportedly occurred at about 5:30am as Nigerians marked the country’s 66th Independence anniversary.
An eyewitness who recorded a video at the scene said the attackers intercepted the two buses along the highway, robbed the passengers of their belongings and took all the occupants into the bush.
The eyewitness identified the attackers as “Fulani herdsmen and bandits”, although the claim had not been independently verified as of the time of filing this report.
“I’m reporting from Owerri-Onitsha Road. This happened this morning. Fulani herdsmen and bandits robbed two vehicles coming from Lagos, going to Owerri, and took all of them (passengers) into the bush,” the eyewitness said in the video.
He said security operatives had arrived at the scene following the attack, while soldiers were already searching the surrounding bush in an attempt to locate and rescue the abducted passengers.
“Police came this morning, and the army has already entered the bush to see if they can rescue those victims. This happened around 5:30am this morning. I don’t know what is going on in our South-East,” he said.
Lamenting the worsening security situation in the region, the eyewitness expressed concern that travellers could no longer feel safe while using major highways in the South-East.
“I don’t know why Fulani men will come all the way from the North to the East to rob us. Igbos, wake up from sleep. What is happening to us? What is really going on with us?” he said.
He added that every passenger in the affected buses was robbed before the occupants were taken away.
“They robbed every passenger in those buses and took all of them into the bush. I feel bad. This thing can happen to anybody. I am angry! What is going on? We are no longer safe in this country,” the eyewitness said.
A video recorded at the scene showed one of the buses involved in the attack bearing the inscription, “Government of Akwa Ibom State,” on its front, while “Uko Akwa Ibom Motors Nig. Ltd” was written on its sides.
The eyewitness further claimed that other vehicles might also have been attacked and their occupants abducted, although the exact number of vehicles involved and the number of passengers taken away remained unclear.
The incident could not immediately be independently confirmed by the police in both states.
The Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, was contacted over the incident and requested the video recorded at the scene.
After reviewing the material, Ikenga said the location shown was not in Anambra State.
The Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Okoye Henry, could not be reached for comments as of the time of filing this report. A WhatsApp message sent to him was delivered, but he had not responded.
The Owerri–Onitsha Road has previously recorded attacks on travellers and kidnapping incidents.
In March 2025, the Anambra State Police Command said three kidnapped victims were rescued along the Onitsha–Owerri Expressway in Ozubulu following a joint security operation.
In May 2025, several passengers, including travellers aboard a bus operated by an Akwa Ibom transport company, were reportedly abducted along the Aba–Owerri Road in Imo State. The attackers were alleged to have disguised themselves in police uniforms.
The latest reported attack comes amid continuing security concerns over kidnapping and other violent attacks targeting travellers on major highways in the South-East and other parts of Nigeria.
In August 2026, the Kogi State Police Command also reported that passengers travelling in two buses were abducted along the Aloma–Egane Expressway. Eleven victims were subsequently rescued during a joint security operation.
As of the time of filing this report, the identities of the passengers reportedly abducted along the Owerri–Onitsha Expressway, their exact number and their whereabouts remained unknown.
The circumstances surrounding the attack, including the identity of the perpetrators, also remained under investigation.