Some gunmen have snatched a 14-seat staff vehicle belonging to Channels Television in Benin, the Edo State capital.

It was gathered that the white Toyota Hiace bus, with number plate APP 98 DC, was snatched  at gunpoint at about 9pm on Tuesday at Omoruyi Street, off Lucky Way, in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of ?the state. The gunmen, numbering four, had trailed the vehicle with a black Sports Utility Vehicle and seized it shortly after it was used to convey the Station Manager to his
residence.

The driver of the bus was said to have been tied up and beaten mercilessly by the attackers before he was dumped at Ogbemudia Farm, along Benin-Lagos road, at about 10.30pm.

A staff member of the television station, who confided in PUNCH, said the driver of the bus was, however, able to make contact with the management of the station, through the assistance of some local vigilantes in the area.

“There are four of them and they were well armed?. They came in a black jeep and bundled the driver. They dumped him at Ogbemudia Farm after beating him up. But we have reported the incident at Oregbeni Police Division,” the source said.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Stephen Onwochei, said investigation had commenced into the incident with a view to recovering the vehicle and arresting the perpetrators.

“We got a report ?about the vehicle this morning and we are doing our investigation to recover it,” Onwochei said on the telephone.