JUST IN: Bandits Block Highway, Abduct 26 Passengers

In a disturbing incident on Tuesday afternoon, bandits targeted the Gusau-Sokoto highway, kidnapping over 26 travelers. The assailants reportedly blocked the road near Kwaren Kirya village in the Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State, seizing passengers from both a Toyota 18-seater bus and a Volkswagen Golf vehicle.

A concerned resident, speaking anonymously for security reasons, revealed to Channels Television that the situation has escalated, with bandits now blocking the road on a daily basis. The source explained, “As I’m talking to you now, about 30 minutes ago, these bandits have blocked another side of the road. They cleared the passengers of an 18-seater bus and a Golf; the situation is worrisome because it has become an everyday thing for these people to be blocking the road.”

Expressing further unease, the source raised concerns about the village of Balge along the highway, alleging it harbors suspected bandits. The resident appealed to the government to deploy security outposts in the area to curb the criminal activities, emphasizing, “There is a village when you pass that Kwaren Kirya called Balge, about 80% of settlers in that village are bandits.”

“There was a time they were chased out of the place, but a majority of the people there were bandits. We just need the government to help us and station military around the area,” the source added.

As of now, police authorities in the state have not provided any comments on the latest abduction incident.