Travelers Abducted as Bandits Block Gusau-Funtua Highway

An unspecified number of travelers have been reportedly kidnapped by armed bandits who blocked the Gusau-Funtua highway early Thursday morning. The incident occurred around the Tazame axis, with the assailants mounting a roadblock, effectively cutting off the vital route.

Eyewitnesses report that the bandits, numbering in the dozens, arrived on about 50 motorcycles, with each bike carrying three individuals. The attackers are said to have abducted several travelers, though the exact number remains unclear. One stranded commuter, Yusuf Tsafe, told Channels Television, “They entered the road around 7 a.m. and were still there by 9 a.m. We parked by the roadside, waiting for the military to clear the road, but we saw them taking people into the bush.”

Military forces responded to the scene, with gunfire heard as they engaged the bandits. However, as of the time of reporting, the highway remains closed to traffic. “The military guntruck arrived, but no vehicle has been allowed to pass yet,” Tsafe added.

In addition to the Gusau-Funtua highway, reports suggest that bandits also blocked the Magazu-Kucheri road, further complicating travel in the region. Another commuter confirmed, “The military told us to stop as the bandits had blocked the road, and we are still waiting for them to clear it.”

The spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police Command, ASP Yazid Abubakar, confirmed that additional police and military forces, including operatives of the Nigerian Police Mobile Squad, have been deployed to the area in an effort to secure the roads.

Zamfara State, like other northwestern and central Nigerian states, has been plagued by heavily armed gangs who carry out kidnappings for ransom, and commit arson and looting in local communities. These criminal groups often operate from vast forest camps, targeting schools and travelers for mass abductions in recent years.

As authorities work to restore security, residents and travelers remain on edge, awaiting the clearance of the roads.