Gunmen abduct over 50 people travelling from Sokoto to Zamfara
Story from Saleh INUWA, Kano
Over 50 travellers have been abducted in Sokoto State by armed bandits, an official of the Sokoto state government has confirmed this to the press, although he did not state the exact number of those abducted.
The victims were travelling on the Sokoto-Gusau road on Saturday when they were kidnapped.
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The total number of people kidnapped during the operation has not been confirmed, but a resident of the area told the media that over 50 people were kidnapped.
Multiple sources also told the press that most of those abducted boarded buses belonging to the State Transport Authority, simply known as SPORA.
Confirming the attack to journalists, Yahuza Chika, the general manager of the Sokoto Mass Transit, said only one of their buses was involved, while other vehicles did not belong to them.
He said two people from the bus escaped while the other passengers were taken by the bandits. He did not give the number of those kidnapped from his organisation’s bus.
However, a motorist from Talata Mafara going to Sokoto, Abubakar Umar, said more than 50 people were kidnapped during the operation that lasted more than 30 minutes.
He said, “I was driving when I started hearing gunshots. I had to stop immediately after Lambar Bakura and other motorists stopped too. When the road was cleared, we drove to the spot and there were many empty vehicles parked. I counted three empty SPORA vehicles.
Another motorist, Isa Mustapha, said the attack occurred a few minutes after he drove past the spot.
“From Tureta to Lambar Bakura, you can count more than ten security checkpoints that include police, immigration and soldiers, I wonder how bandits could still be terrorising the same place every day.
“I left just a little after 11 in the morning and I started getting calls to confirm whether I’ve left the spot because bandits were attacking people. It’s scary”.
Ahmad Madunaka, a school teacher in Sokoto, said commuters in the first three vehicles were completely kidnapped and it included passengers of SPORA vehicle.
Kidnapping for ransom has become a common place in Sokoto and many other states in Nigeria.
The attacks in Sokoto and other states in Northwest Nigeria are carried out by armed bandits whose aim is to terrorise residents and make money.
Apart from the kidnappings, the bandits also kill residents of communities at will.
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