Gunmen abduct 28 travellers in Bashir District, WASE Local Govt Area of Plateau State
Victims include men, women, children travelling to Sabon Layi for Maulud event
2 Princes, religious leader leading the journey were also among the victims
Plateau Police spokesperson when contacted said the matter is under investigation
By our correspondant, Jos
Gunmen abducted 28 travellers on Sunday night in Zak community, Bashar District, Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State.
A youth leader in Wase, Sapi’i Sambo who confirmed the development in a telephone interview said that the victims included men, women, and children.
Another resident of Bashar town, Ibrahim Musa, confirmed the incident, explaining that the whereabouts of the victims are still unknown.
According to the youth leader, the victims were abducted while on their way from Zak village to Sabon Layi community to attend a Maulud event scheduled to hold on Sunday.
Sambo explained that two princes and a religious leader leading the journey were among the victims.
He said, “The incident happened around 8 pm when they were heading to Sabon Layi for the event. When the gunmen ambushed the victims’ vehicle at the outskirt of the community, they took away all the travellers, including the children, and abandoned the vehicle.”
“It was on Monday morning that people travelling on the road saw the vehicle, which belongs to the Zak community leader abandoned on the road. So, in the course of investigation, the community discovered it was the vehicle that carried the travellers that was abandoned,” Sambo explained.
The youth leader said all efforts to locate the whereabouts of the victims were unsuccessful, adding that security forces had been informed about the situation.
The spokesperson for the State Police Command, SP Alabo Alfred when contacted said they are investigating the report of the incident.
Our correspondent reports that kidnapping, banditry, and cattle rustling have been rampant in Wase generally, and residents are calling on security agencies to flush out criminal elements terrorizing the area.
