The ever gloomy Kaduna-Abuja expressway which has been reported for one bad news after another has been the target of bandits again as they laid siege to it while attacking a few passengers and kidnapping one student along the road on Thursday.
According to a press statement signed by Abdul Gusau Polytechnic’s Head of Public Relations, Comrade Aliyu Damri, the bandits blocked the highway between Kurmin Kare and Katari in Kachia Local Government Area of the State where they kidnapped the student and many other people.
Read Also: Bandits Attack Abuja-Kaduna Road, Abduct Many Travellers
He further stated that the attack involved many commercial and private vehicles plying the highway at about 4pm, saying that the terrorists abducted over 16 people.
“The abducted people included children, traders, and civil servants. They include Mallam Sanusi Halilu, the students’ affairs officer, Abdu Gusau Polytechnic, Talata Mafara, alongside with Mallam Tukur, a staff with LGEA Bakura, Mallam Sanusi Halilu and Mallam Lawali Tukur.
“Others include one Mallam Aliyu Atiku, the Deputy Registrar, Zamfara State College of Agriculture and Animal Sciences. Bakura and Mallam Sanusi Sokoto, a staff with Federal Road Safety Corps, Sokoto State Command, were on their way to attend pre-NYSC mobilization workshop to be held today in Abuja,” he added.
A motorist, who escaped being abducted, told reporters that the bandits struck around Katari axis some minutes after 4 p.m.
“The bandits blocked both lanes and started shooting in the air to force drivers to stop,” he said.
The anonymous source said he saw several empty vehicles, especially on the Kaduna-bound Lane of the road.
Asked if there were efforts from security agents to repel the attack, the source said a team of security agents only got to the scene after the attackers had left with their captives.
Another witness, Muhammad Ibrahim, told HumanAngle that the terrorists attacked an 18 seater bus belonging to the Zamfara State Transport Authority, one Peugeot 406, two Toyota Corolla, a Golf, and several other vehicles
The police spokesperson in Kaduna, Mohammed Jalige, could not be reached for comments.
