A GUO Transport Company bus headed for Abuja came under heavy attack by suspected kidnappers on Tuesday along the Akunu axis of Ondo State, raising fresh concerns over the safety of travellers on Nigeria’s highways.
The attackers, believed to be kidnappers, reportedly opened fire on the vehicle just minutes after it passed a police checkpoint between Akunu in Ondo and Ayere in Kogi State.
This area is already known for its repeated cases of bandit activity and abductions despite visible police presence.
According to eyewitness reports, several passengers were injured during the incident, while the bus was left riddled with bullet holes.
A video obtained from the scene showed blood splattered across the front seats of the vehicle, with passengers visibly shaken.
In the video, the bus driver, who appeared unharmed, expressed gratitude for his safety.
“Make I come make them bring tyre out there. I thank God nothing happened to me. You no see wetin bullet do this place?” he said in Pidgin, showing the severe bullet damage to the vehicle.
The attack was said to have occurred shortly after the vehicle passed a checkpoint.
A user on X (formerly Twitter) stated, “Kidnappers open fire on Abuja bound GUO bus shortly after driving about 3 minutes passing a police checking point Akunu in Ondo, before Ayare in Kogi State.”
The security challenge has sparked renewed concern about the safety of travelers, especially on highways where criminal activities are frequently reported.
One passenger could be heard in the video asking others to re-enter the vehicle, concerned that the tired driver needed to rest after the traumatic event.
The emotional tone in the video shows the level of distress experienced by passengers during the attack.
Meanwhile, efforts to get a statement from GUO Transport Company have proven unsuccessful.
When contacted via their official WhatsApp line, the company responded with an automated message saying:
“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.”
As of the time of this report, spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, Funmilayo Odunlami, had not responded to multiple phone calls and follow-up messages requesting a comment.
This attack is one among many that have occurred along the Akunu-Ayere road, an area where criminal groups have been operating with increasing boldness.
Furthermore, this incident highlights the urgent need for more conscious security measures on highways and better strategies to prevent future attacks on passengers.
