Men of the Nigeria Police on Monday foiled an attempt by suspected kidnappers to hijack a Lagos bound 15-seater commercial bus around Rumuji along the East-West Road in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Confirming the incident, the spokesman of the Rivers State Police Command, DSP Nnamdi Omoni said the suspected kidnappers opened fire on the bus from inside the bush in an attempt to force it to stop.

Omoni said some policemen stationed close to the scene were then alerted. They arrived the scene and engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel, forcing them to flee into the nearby bush.

He disclosed that the gallant policemen chased the suspects into the bush, eventually killing three of them while five others who were arrested are currently being interrogated.

The spokesman further said the Police had assisted the rest of the passengers to continue their journey to Lagos, adding that the driver of the bus was however unable to continue  due to the bullet wounds he sustained during the shoot out.