In a brazen attack that has heightened security fears, gunmen kidnapped twenty-eight travellers on Sunday night in Plateau State. The abduction occurred in the Zak community, located within the Bashar district of Wase Local Government Area.
Details of the Night-Time Ambush
The victims were en route from Zak village to the Sabon Layi community to attend a Maulud religious event when the assailants struck. The attack took place around 8 pm on the outskirts of the community, according to a local youth leader, Sapi'i Sambo, who confirmed the incident.
Armed men intercepted the travellers' vehicle, forced all occupants out, and marched them into the nearby bush. The attackers then fled the scene, leaving the vehicle abandoned. It was this abandoned vehicle, discovered on Monday morning, that first raised the alarm. The car was later identified as belonging to the leader of the Zak community.
High-Profile Victims Among the Abducted
The group of twenty-eight abducted individuals is reported to include men, women, and children. Disturbingly, two princes and a religious leader were also among those taken. As of the time of reporting, the whereabouts of all the victims remain unknown, causing immense distress for their families and the wider community.
Another resident from Bashar town, Ibrahim Musa, confirmed that local searches by community members have so far yielded no results. The matter has been formally reported to security authorities for urgent intervention.
Security Response and Rising Concerns
The spokesperson for the Plateau State Police Command, SP Alabo Alfred, stated that the command is actively investigating the reported abduction. This incident underscores the persistent security challenges in Wase Local Government Area, which has been plagued by recurring incidents of kidnapping, banditry, and cattle rustling in recent years.
Residents of the area have repeatedly called for sustained and decisive security operations to dismantle the criminal networks operating with impunity in rural communities. The latest abduction has deepened the existing climate of fear in a region already troubled by repeated security breaches.
