Suspected kidnappers open fire on Abuja-bound GUO bus in Ondo

In yet another chilling reminder of Nigeria’s worsening highway insecurity, a GUO Transport Company bus en route to Abuja came under heavy gunfire on Tuesday from suspected kidnappers along the notorious Akunu axis of Ondo State.

The brazen attack, which occurred just minutes after the vehicle passed a police checkpoint between Akunu in Ondo and Ayere in neighboring Kogi State, has intensified calls for urgent action to safeguard travelers on Nigerian roads.

Eyewitness accounts and viral video footage from the scene reveal the chaos that unfolded during the ambush. Passengers were reportedly injured, and the bus sustained significant damage as bullets riddled its frame.

Bloodstains were visible across the front seats, underscoring the ferocity of the assault. In the now-circulating video, the visibly shaken driver, who miraculously escaped injury, expressed gratitude for his survival.

“Make I come make them bring tyre out there. I thank God nothing happened to me. You no see wetin bullets in this place?” he said in Pidgin, pointing to the severely damaged vehicle.

According to one social media user who shared the video on X (formerly Twitter), the attack occurred roughly three minutes after the bus passed through a police checkpoint.

“Kidnappers open fire on an Abuja bound GUO bus shortly after driving about 3 minutes passing a police checkpoint point Akunu in Ondo, before Ayere in Kogi State,” the user posted.

The Akunu-Ayere stretch has long been identified as a hotspot for banditry and abductions, despite regular police checkpoints in the area.

Tuesday’s attack adds to a growing list of violent incidents that continue to plague this route, raising questions about the effectiveness of current security deployments.

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One distressed passenger in the video can be heard urging others to re-enter the vehicle, expressing concern for the fatigued driver following the traumatic ordeal.

The emotional weight of the incident was evident in the footage, capturing the raw fear and confusion experienced by those on board.

Efforts to obtain an official response from GUO Transport Company have so far been unsuccessful. A message sent to the company’s official WhatsApp line received only an automated reply stating:

“Thank you for contacting GUO Transport. We’d love to help, but we’re currently off work hours. We’ll attend to all enquiries in the next working hour.”

Similarly, attempts to reach the spokesperson of the Ondo State Police Command, SP Funmilayo Odunlami, yielded no results as multiple phone calls and follow-up messages went unanswered at the time of filing this report.

Tuesday’s attack highlights the dire need for a more proactive and coordinated security strategy to address the persistent threat of highway attacks.

With criminal groups operating with increasing brazenness along critical travel routes, experts and citizens alike are calling for an overhaul of existing measures to restore safety and public confidence in road transportation.

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