Two drivers of Coaster buses, who recently foiled attempt by hoodlums to rob their passengers along Aba-Umuahia axis of Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, have been rewarded by the President of Cooperative Motor Union Abia State, Mr. Chukwuma Azode.

The traders were honoured for their bravery, vigilance and smart response in the face of life-threatening danger and for talking smart actions that led to the arrest of suspected criminals at an army checkpoint.

The incident happened when two fully loaded Coaster buses traveling from Aba to Umuahia were infiltrated by six armed men, who split across both vehicles, posing as genuine passengers.

The first driver, on noticing suspicious behavior and being threatened at gunpoint, refused to stop at a dangerous location as demanded by one of the suspected criminals but instead drove faster straight to the Isialangwa military checkpoint on the expressway, where soldiers on duty searched and arrested the suspects.

With communication with the second driver, the remaining suspects in the trailing vehicle were also intercepted, arrested and taken into custody by the the military team.

In appreciation of the heroic actions, the President of Corporative Motor Union in Abia State, Chukwuma Azodo gave some cash rewards to the two drivers and granted them special loading rights in the motor park.

“This act of courage is a clear result of the consistent orientation and safety training we give our drivers,” said Mr. Azode.

“They did not just save their own lives; they saved every single passenger and helped our security forces capture men who intended to cause harm.”

Mr. Azode used the occasion to caution all other drivers across the State to emulate the good example set by their colleagues by remaining vigilant and proactive, and to report suspicious activity without hesitation.

“Let us not allow evil men to destroy the good works going on in Abia. It is our responsibility as citizens to fish out criminals who want to drag us back into darkness,” he said.