Gunmen have abducted no fewer than 28 travellers in Zak community, Bashar district of Wase Local Government Area, Plateau State.
A youth leader in Wase, Sapi’i Sambo, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview, stating that the victims included men, women, and children.
Another resident of Bashar town, Ibrahim Musa, said the whereabouts of the abducted travellers remain unknown.
According to Sambo, the victims were seized on Sunday night while travelling from Zak village to Sabon Layi community to attend a Maulud event. He added that two princes and a religious leader who were leading the journey were also among those abducted.
“The incident happened around 8 pm when they were heading to Sabon Layi for the event. The gunmen ambushed the victims’ vehicle on the outskirts of the community and took away all the travellers, including the children, leaving the vehicle behind,” Sambo said.
He further explained that it was on Monday morning that road users discovered the abandoned vehicle, which belongs to the Zak community leader. Following preliminary checks, the community realised it was the same vehicle conveying the kidnapped travellers.
Sambo said efforts to trace the victims’ whereabouts have so far proved abortive, noting that security agencies have been alerted.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Plateau State Police Command, Alabo Alfred, said the command was investigating the reported abduction.
Our correspondent reports that kidnapping, banditry, and cattle rustling have become rampant in Wase Local Government Area, prompting residents to call on security agencies to intensify efforts to flush out criminal elements terrorising the area.