Suspected Armed Robbers Attack Vehicles, Shoot Driver, Rape Female Passenger On Osun Highway

Osogbo, Osun State- Armed robbers reportedly ambushed two vehicles travelling along the Ife/Osu highway in Osun State, shooting one driver and sexually assaulting a female passenger.

A passenger from one of the affected vehicles reported that the attack took place in the early hours of Wednesday, between the Ife and Osu communities in Osun State.

PUNCH reports that a group of around eight robbers intercepted a commercial bus and a private car traveling from Lagos. They forced the passengers to exit the vehicles and stole various amounts of money from them.

One passenger recounted, “The robbers targeted two vehicles: a bus and a private car. I was on the bus. Both vehicles were coming from Lagos. We were past Ife but not yet at Osu when the robbers stopped us. They were armed with guns.”

“The bus driver was shot but survived with injuries. One of the car passengers, a woman, was raped. The robbers stole our money and ATM cards, forcing us to transfer funds into their accounts before returning the cards to one of their members.”

“During the chaos, some passengers managed to escape into the bush. They informed others they encountered that robbers were in the area, prompting security forces to be mobilized.”

“Shortly after the robbers left, police, vigilantes, and members of the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Service arrived and began searching the area. They managed to arrest one of the robbers, who was taken into custody.”

Emmanuel Giwa-Alade, the acting PPRO of the State Police Command, confirmed the incident, stating, “We received a report about the incident and were able to apprehend one suspect, who is currently assisting with our investigation.”