Armed bandits have abducted over 50 travelers in Sokoto State.
An eyewitness said the victims were up to 50 but an official of the Sokoto state government, who confirmed the abductions, did not state the number of victims.
The abductees were said to be travelling on the Sokoto-Gusau road on Sunday when they were kidnapped.
Sources told newsmen that most of those abducted boarded buses belonging to the State Transport Authority.
Confirming the incident, the general manager of the Sokoto Mass Transit, Yahuza Chika, said only one of their buses was involved, while other vehicles involved did not belong to them.
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 they were many vehicles empty parked. I counted three empty SPORA vehicles.”
Another motorist, Isa Mustapha, said, “From Tureta to Lambar Bakura, you can count more than ten security checkpoints that include police, immigration and soldiers, how then could bandits be terrorising 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 have started attacking people. It’s scary.”
