Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have struck in Ondo State following an attack on an 18-passenger bus.

The entire passengers of the Lagos bound bus which was on transit through the state were abducted by the kidnappers.

The travellers were said to have been waylaid along the Idoani-Ifira Akoko axis in the northern senatorial district of the state.

It was gathered that the bus was forced to a stop on the failed portion of the Idoani-Ifira road in Akoko South East Local Government Area of the State where the armed men had strategically positioned themselves.

According to sources, the kidnappers shot sporadically in the air scared off villagers and other motorists who abandoned their vehicles before scampering into the bush.

One of the sources disclosed that the passengers were robbed of their valuables before marching them into the forest.

Confirming the incident, the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, for Isua Akoko Division, CSP Hakeem Sadiq said that the anti-kidnapping unit of the police command, as well as other sister agencies, had already swung into action towards rescuing the abducted travellers unhurt.

Meanwhile, a source close to one of the victims disclosed that the kidnappers had demanded ten million naira ransom for the release of the abducted passengers.