A commercial bus driver in Abia State, Onyekachi Ikpendu, has been commended for his honesty after returning a bag containing more than N400,000 and other valuables forgotten by a passenger in his vehicle.
The incident occurred on Friday, September 11, 2026, when a trader, Mrs Nkechi John, boarded a bus from Uzuakoli to the Nnenna Oti Bus Terminal in Umuahia.
John, who was travelling for business purposes, reportedly alighted at Ubani Market but mistakenly left her bag inside the vehicle.
The bag contained personal belongings and more than N400,000 in cash, which she had intended to use for her business.
After realising that she had left the bag in the bus, the trader immediately returned to the Nnenna Oti Bus Terminal, located along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway in Umuahia, in an attempt to locate the vehicle and recover her belongings.
Unknown to her, the driver had already secured the bag and its contents and was waiting at the terminal for the owner to return.
Upon arriving at the terminal, John was reunited with her bag, with the cash and other belongings intact.
Overjoyed by the recovery, she expressed her appreciation to Ikpendu for his honesty and integrity.
The trader also commended Abia State Governor Alex Otti for the construction of the Nnenna Oti Bus Terminal, saying the facility made it easier for her to trace the vehicle and recover her belongings.
Speaking to journalists at the terminal on Friday, Ikpendu said he never considered keeping the money for himself, stressing that he was satisfied with making an honest living through his work.
According to him, returning the passenger’s property was the right thing to do, regardless of the amount of money involved.
The incident has since attracted commendation for the driver, with his action highlighting the importance of honesty and integrity in public transportation.
The Nnenna Oti Bus Terminal, located in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, is a modern multimodal transport hub commissioned by Governor Alex Otti on May 28, 2026.
The facility is designed to improve transportation services, provide a centralised terminal for commuters and operators, and enhance the movement of people and goods within the state.
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