HEROIC DRIVER AND SOLDIERS FOIL KIDNAP ATTEMPT ON ABA–UMUAHIA ROAD, RESCUING DOZENS. (VIDEO/PHOTO).

Heroic Driver and Soldiers Foil Kidnap Attempt on Aba–Umuahia Road, Rescuing Dozens

A daring kidnap attempt targeting two fully loaded Coaster buses along the Aba–Umuahia expressway was thwarted yesterday, thanks to the bravery of a quick-thinking driver and the swift response of Nigerian soldiers at the Isialangwa military checkpoint.

Eyewitnesses reported that six armed men, posing as passengers, boarded the buses at a busy Aba motor park. Shortly after departure, the assailants seized control, ordering the drivers to divert into a bush path. Defiant, one driver ignored the gunmen’s threats and sped toward the nearby Isialangwa checkpoint, risking his life and those of his passengers.

Upon reaching the checkpoint, soldiers sprang into action, intercepting the attackers, disarming them, and rescuing all passengers unharmed. Firearms and ammunition were recovered, and the six suspects were arrested.

Mr. Chukwuma Azode, State President of the Motor Union in Abia State, praised the driver’s courage and the military’s prompt intervention. “This is a clear sign that Abia State is no longer a safe haven for criminals,” Azode declared. He issued a stern warning to would-be offenders: “Abia is not the place for you. We are working closely with security agencies to protect lives and property, especially on our roads.”

The rescued passengers have been reunited with their families, and authorities have heightened security around transport hubs. The state government has vowed to ensure the safety of all transport routes, with ongoing investigations to dismantle the network behind the attempted hijacking.

Watch video below.