Terrorists, suspected to be Fulanis, have kidnapped some passengers in a commercial bus travelling along the Ughelli-Patani Road in Delta state.

In a statement shared on its official X handle on Sunday and attached with a video, the Nigerian Army said the terrorists fled after its officers arrived at the scene, adding that the abandoned passengers had been rescued.

The army said it responded to a distress call by deploying its men to confront “the terrorists, who were armed with assorted weapons. A fierce firefight ensued, compelling the terrorists to abandon their captives and flee the scene.”

“The rescued passengers have been taken into safe custody, where they are receiving necessary care and support,” adding that, “the troops are currently pursuing the fleeing terrorists.”

The statement included a video made by one of the rescued passengers, who thanked the soldiers for coming to their rescue on time.

The passenger, who identified himself as Andrew and made the video, said the terrorists stole money and other items from them while some of the passengers were already kidnapped before the troops arrived.

He said, “If not for the help of the Nigerian Army, they would have kidnapped us. Some people are missing till now, our properties were taken, thanks to the soldiers. Our drivers and others are missing.”

“They were serious armed robbers, Fulanis. We saw them clearly, they are Fulani people with guns. They buthered some people among us, they collected our money, they did lots of things to us. But thank God for keeping me strong and alive, and thanks also to the Nigerian soldiers who came to rescue us. Some people are still missing but we know they will see them out,” he narrated.