It was so alarming on Tuesday morning as over 30 travellers were kidnapped along the Abuja-Kaduna highway as terrorists blocked the expressway. The confirmation came from former federal lawmaker and activist, Senator Shehu Sani, who revealed the incident occurred near Kateri village around 9 pm.

Politicians from both the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and opposition parties managed to escape the abduction attempt. The armed bandits, wielding AK-47 rifles, forcibly blocked the road for approximately 45 minutes. During this time, they opened fire and compelled travellers out of their vehicles at gunpoint, creating a scene of chaos and fear.

Local residents, including Suleiman Dan Baba, described the harrowing ordeal. “The bandits, armed with AK-47 rifles, blocked the road for about 45 minutes, opening fire and forcing travellers out of their vehicles at gunpoint,” he said.

According to witnesses, the attackers split into groups, extending their reach to nearby Bishini and Kokore communities, where they abducted several villagers. Shuaibu Adamu Jere, a community leader, recounted a relative’s narrow escape near the attack site, stating, “The operation lasted around 45 minutes. A driver was shot, and two vehicles were left abandoned.”

Samuel Aruwan, the Kaduna State overseeing commissioner for internal security and home affairs, and ASP Mansir Hassan, the state Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, assured the public that they would conduct a thorough investigation into the incident. This latest incident further underscores the escalating security concerns along the Abuja-Kaduna road, prompting authorities to address the pressing issue of insecurity in the region.

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