Armed terrorists blocked the Mokwa-New Bussa Road in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State on Sunday, August 9, shooting two travellers dead and kidnapping seven others, according to sources who spoke to Daily Trust on Tuesday. The attack occurred just five hours after security agencies in the state met with officials of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to direct their members to shelve an ongoing three-day protest over alleged kidnappings and killings by bandits on the same route.
Attack follows protest over rampant insecurity
The commercial drivers had been protesting the frequent attacks on the road, which had become a hotspot for banditry. An anonymous commercial driver told the publication that the first vehicle to leave Mokwa for New Bussa after the protest, around 6 pm, was intercepted between Ibbi and Felegi. “Shortly after the protest, suspected kidnappers abducted seven travellers along the newly reopened New Bussa–Mokwa Road. There is an urgent need for stringent security measures to protect travellers and residents along the route,” he said.
Another driver, Abdulrahman Mustapha, detailed the grim reality facing road users, stating that they have lost three of their colleagues to bandits and several others have been injured, apart from those currently held in captivity. “Every day, bandits kidnap our people on Mokwa-New Bussa Road. We have lost three drivers on this road. It has become rampant to the extent that bandits are blocking this Mokwa to New-Bussa Road three times some days. Sometimes, they don’t even stop vehicles; they just open fire on the moving vehicle. Almost every day, we lose no fewer than three passengers,” he lamented.
Drivers abandoned by authorities
Mustapha expressed frustration over the lack of support from authorities, noting that vigilantes in Ibbi, Borgu LGA, who used to assist them, have stopped responding because they are not being taken care of by the government. “We don’t know who to call to assist us. We used to contact vigilantes in Ibbi, Borgu LGA to assist us, but they stopped coming to our rescue because they are not being taken care of by the government,” he said.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed that the drivers had reopened the road after military intervention. He, however, stated that he was yet to receive information on fresh kidnappings after the road was opened for movement, promising to revert with details.
Impact on travellers and security concerns
The incident underscores the persistent security challenges on the Mokwa-New Bussa Road, a critical artery for commuters and goods in the region. The killing of two travellers and abduction of seven others highlight the dangers faced daily by those using the route, despite military presence. The NURTW protest, which was suspended following the security meeting, had drawn attention to the need for permanent solutions to end the banditry.
As of now, the police have not confirmed the latest casualties, but the drivers' accounts paint a dire picture of insecurity. The state government and security agencies are under pressure to intensify patrols and deploy more resources to protect the road, which has become a hotspot for criminal activities.
