Several travelers abducted as bandits block highway, set buses ablaze in Kaduna

By CHIMEZIE ENYIOCHA

Several people have been reportedly kidnapped by bandits who attacked travellers along the Kaduna-Birnin-Gwari Road in Kaduna State.

Sources said the bandits blocked the highway on Tuesday and in the process, set about eight vehicles ablaze.

They were said to have later taken away an unspecified number of travellers, mostly women and children, to an unknown location.

Although the police authorities in the state have yet to confirm the incident, it is unclear if any life was lost to the attack.

The Chairman of Birnin Gwari Vanguards for Security and Good Governance, Ibrahim Nagwari, confirmed the attack in a statement.

In his narration, he said bandits blocked the Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna Highway and intercepted a convoy of motorists with security escorts between Kuriga and Manini, near Udawa where they left with an unspecified number of people into the bush.

Nagwari also raised fears that the armed men have formed an alliance with the Ansaru terrorist group to declare war on the residents of Birnin-Gwari, stressing that the political will of the government to tackle the security threats has remained a mirage.

He advised the people of the area to stop travelling through the Kaduna-Birnin-Gwari Highway until when the security situation there improved.

“We had always appreciated efforts of security personnel in their passion to curtail the security challenges bedevilling the Birnin-Gwari general area, but our people have reached a point of no return,” Nagwari said, noting that necessitated the “need for the people of Birnin-Gwari and communities along the Kaduna-Birnin-Gwari Highway to halt with immediate effect travelling on this notorious highway until the security situation improves.”

“This organisation hereby advises all our citizens to exercise maximum restraint and obey all rules of the land and seclude themselves in prayers for Allah’s intervention to deal with these terrorists and their collaborators within our communities.

“Equally, we pray for the safe return of our people, mostly women and children that were abducted,” he added. (Channels TV)