In a distressing development, armed bandits on Saturday blocked the Gusau-Funtua highway, abducting an unspecified number of travellers. The incident occurred between Kucheri and Magazu communities in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, where the attackers reportedly opened fire on vehicles, forcing them to stop.
The spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police Command, ASP Yazid Abubakar, confirmed the attack during a phone interview with Channels Television. According to Abubakar, a joint team of police and other security forces have launched a rescue operation to recover the abducted individuals. “The incident happened this afternoon. The bandits blocked the road and started shooting at the commuters, they kidnapped some of them,” said Abubakar. “The command, in collaboration with other security agencies, are working hand in hand to make sure the kidnapped victims are rescued.”
While confirming the abductions, Abubakar refuted claims that five mobile policemen were also kidnapped during a shootout with the bandits.
The Gusau-Funtua highway has become a dangerous stretch, with bandits frequently staging attacks and abductions. This latest incident marks a troubling continuation of such threats, heightening concerns over security in the region.
Zamfara and its neighboring states in northwestern and central Nigeria have been plagued by the activities of heavily armed gangs who conduct kidnappings, loot villages, and engage in extortion. The gangs, who have established camps across a vast forest that cuts through Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, and Niger states, have escalated their activities in recent years, targeting not only commuters but also students, with mass abductions from schools becoming increasingly common.
Last month, bandits launched a brutal raid on four villages in the Sabuwa district of Katsina State, killing 25 people, mostly vigilantes, in retaliation for military strikes on their hideouts. While the bandits lack a clear ideological agenda, their attacks appear to be driven by financial motives, such as ransom payments. However, there is growing concern among security experts and officials about potential ties between these bandit groups and jihadist elements operating in Nigeria’s northeast, complicating efforts to restore peace in the region.
As the Zamfara State Police Command and other security agencies intensify rescue efforts, the incident underscores the persistent insecurity plaguing the region and the urgent need for comprehensive measures to safeguard citizens and restore stability.
