By Peter Omopo
Gunmen have abducted no fewer than 28 travellers in an attack on a vehicle in Zak community, Bashar District of Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The incident occurred on Sunday night as the passengers, comprising men, women and children, were travelling to Sabon Layi community to attend a Maulud religious gathering.
A youth leader in Wase, Sapi’i Sambo, confirmed the abduction in a telephone interview, stating that the victims were travelling under the guidance of two princes and a religious cleric when they were ambushed by armed men.
According to him, the attack took place at about 8 p.m. on the outskirts of the community. He said the gunmen intercepted the vehicle, abducted all the occupants, including children, and abandoned the vehicle at the scene.
“The incident happened around 8 p.m. when they were heading to Sabon Layi for the event. The gunmen ambushed the vehicle, took away the travellers and left the vehicle behind,” Sambo said.
He added that the incident only became known the following day after other road users discovered the abandoned vehicle by the roadside.
“It was on Monday morning that people travelling along the road noticed the vehicle, which belongs to the Zak community leader, abandoned on the road. Upon investigation, it was discovered that it was the same vehicle conveying the travellers that was attacked,” he explained.
Another resident of Bashar, Ibrahim Musa, also confirmed the abduction, noting that as of the time of reporting, the kidnappers had yet to make contact and the whereabouts of the victims remained unknown.
Sambo said community members had conducted a search of the surrounding areas without success and subsequently reported the incident to security agencies for urgent intervention.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the Plateau State Police Command, Superintendent of Police Alabo Alfred, confirmed that the command was aware of the incident and had commenced investigations into the abduction.
