Bandits invade Plateau market, kidnap 5 people, loot food items

A group of bandits stormed the Dogon Ruwa community in Bashar District of Wase local government area of Plateau State, abducting five residents at a local market on Monday.

Local sources revealed that the bandits, during the attack, also looted shops and business centres, carting away huge quantities of food items and pharmaceutical products.

According to reports, the food items include flour, rice, beans, drinks and other supplies.

The market attracts hundreds of traders and buyers from neighbouring communities.

The youth leader in Wase, Shapi’i Sambo, disclosed that the bandits arrived the market around 11am on motorcycles and started shooting sporadically when residents and visitors were transacting businesses, forcing people to flee the market.

READ ALSO: Bandits kill 12 people, kidnap others in reprisal attack

“They stormed the area, almost surrounding the community, and started shooting. Some of them went to the market straight where they picked five shop owners. We believe they targeted the market day to steal food items,” Sambo said.

Sambo added that security personnel, including soldiers and local vigilantes had been mobilised to trail the bandits to their hideouts.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for Operation Safe Haven, Major Samson Zhakom was yet to respond to inquiries about the incident.

Previously, some villages in Wase LGA, particularly in Bashar District have suffered attacks from bandits resulting in loss of lives and properties.

Residents of the area called on security forces to come to their rescue, lamenting that bandit attacks have become a daily occurrence.

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