Kaduna Lawmaker Abducted Along Zamfara Highway

Honourable Usman Garba, known as Zingo, a member of the Kaduna State House of Assembly representing Kajuru Constituency, has been kidnapped by suspected armed terrorists along the Zamfara-Kaduna highway. The abduction occurred on Wednesday, February 11, as he was returning from an official engagement in Zamfara State.

Reports indicate that gunmen intercepted Garba’s vehicle near Kaduna, forcibly removed him, and drove away, leaving his driver behind. The driver immediately reported the incident to the nearest police station, but security personnel arrived too late to intercept the attackers. As of this report, the abductors have not contacted Garba’s family or the Kaduna State Government with any demands.

The incident has intensified concerns over highway insecurity in Nigeria’s North-West, where travelers in Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, and Sokoto states face frequent kidnappings and attacks.

Just a day prior, armed bandits targeted vehicles transporting traders from Kaura Namoda to Talata Mafara in Zamfara State, injuring several passengers. The victims are currently receiving medical care at Mafara Hospital.

Separately, a coordinated attack in Tse-Kaseve village, Anyagba Ward, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, Benue State, left two police inspectors and four civilians dead. The attackers, reportedly over 100 gunmen on motorcycles, attempted to overrun the local market before being confronted by eleven Police Mobile Force officers and members of the Benue State Civil Protection Guard. The clash resulted in the deaths of Inspectors Adams Saidu and Edem Endimon and the seizure of their service rifles, while four civilians were killed and others injured.