Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have attacked a commercial bus operated by GUO Transport along the Ore–Benin expressway, killing the driver and abducting several passengers in what underscores Nigeria’s deepening insecurity on major highways.

Reports indicate that the assailants ambushed the east-bound vehicle, opened fire on the driver, who died at the scene and subsequently whisked away passengers to an unknown destination.

The incident is believed to have occurred along a notorious stretch of the highway linking the South-West to the South-South, long plagued by banditry and abductions.

While official confirmation from security agencies is expected, local sources and a circulating video showed that passengers might have forcefully been taken into nearby forests, a tactic commonly employed by kidnapping syndicates operating along the corridor.

Similar attacks in the past have involved mass abductions, with victims later released after ransom payments.

The Ore–Benin expressway has increasingly become a hotspot for such criminal activities, with security analysts attributing the trend to inadequate patrol coverage, difficult terrain, and the strategic importance of the route for interregional travel.

This latest incident adds to growing public frustration over what many describe as the normalization of violent attacks on Nigerian roads.

Nigerians have repeatedly called for intensified security presence, surveillance infrastructure, and coordinated response mechanisms to curb the menace.

A tragic incident has been reported in Oba, Anambra state where a pregnant woman identified as Omalicha, reportedly lost her life after falling while trying to escape from a stray cow during a burial ceremony.

According to accounts shared online, the incident occurred when the animal suddenly broke loose at the event, causing panic among attendees. As people scrambled for safety, the expectant mother was said to have fallen during the chaos.

The story was brought to public attention by a friend of the deceased, Chinazor Peace Anyadiegwu, who recounted the events in an emotional social media post on Saturday, April 18, 2026.

She revealed that she had seen the woman just hours before the incident, describing a brief encounter where the deceased was with her children. The sudden news of her death, she said, came as a shock.

According to her account, confusion broke out at the burial when the cow became uncontrollable, forcing people to run in different directions. It was during this moment that the pregnant woman reportedly fell, leading to the fatal outcome.

The incident has left many in the community devastated, especially given the woman’s condition and her role as a mother. Tributes have continued to pour in, with friends and acquaintances expressing grief over the sudden loss.

The tragedy has also raised concerns about safety measures at social gatherings, particularly in situations where animals are involved.

Observers say better control and supervision could help prevent such unfortunate incidents in the future.

As of the time of reporting, there has been no official statement from authorities regarding the incident.

The Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) has called on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, to resign immediately over allegations of partisanship, warning that he no longer commands the credibility required to oversee the 2027 general elections.

The group, which includes prominent figures such as Dr Usman Bugaje, Barrister Femi Falana (SAN), Dr Oby Ezekwesili, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, Professor Pat Utomi, Hadjia Dr Bilikisu Magoro and Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo, among others, said the integrity of the electoral body must not be compromised.

In a statement issued on Sunday by its Media Coordinator, Comrade James Ezema, the MCE urged Professor Amupitan to step aside to allow for an independent and transparent investigation into the allegations against him.

The group also called on the Federal Government to constitute an impartial panel comprising judicial officers, digital forensic experts and civil society representatives to ascertain the truth, while demanding an end to any form of intimidation or harassment of citizens raising concerns.

“The integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process is at stake,” the statement said.

“At this critical juncture in the nation’s democratic evolution, the leadership of INEC must be beyond reproach.”

The MCE said recent developments, including alleged digital footprints linking the INEC Chairman to partisan expressions sympathetic to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), had triggered a crisis of confidence.

While noting that Professor Amupitan had denied the allegations, the group insisted that such denials do not resolve the matter in an era of advanced digital forensics, but rather heighten the need for thorough verification.

“In this digital age, denial is not a defence—it is an invitation to forensic scrutiny,” the statement added.

The group further warned that the controversy could escalate into a legal crisis, citing the traceability of digital identities through systems such as the Bank Verification Number (BVN) and National Identification Number (NIN), as well as device-level access logs maintained by digital platforms.