No fewer than 28 travellers, including men, women and children, were abducted by gunmen on Sunday night in Zak community, Bashar District, located in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State.
A youth leader in Wase, Sapi’i Sambo, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview, stating that the victims were travelling from Zak village to Sabon Layi community to attend a Maulud religious event.
Another resident of Bashar town, Ibrahim Musa, also confirmed the abduction, noting that the whereabouts of the victims remain unknown as of the time of reporting.
According to Sambo, the attack occurred at about 8:00 pm when gunmen ambushed the travellers’ vehicle at the outskirts of the community. The assailants reportedly abducted all occupants, including children, and abandoned the vehicle at the scene.
He disclosed that two princes and a religious leader who were leading the journey were among those kidnapped.
“The incident happened around 8pm while they were heading to Sabon Layi for the Maulud event. The gunmen stopped the vehicle, took away everyone inside, including the children, and left the vehicle behind,” Sambo said.
He explained that the abandoned vehicle—belonging to the Zak community leader—was discovered on Monday morning by passers-by, prompting investigations that revealed the travellers had been abducted.
Sambo added that efforts by the community to trace the victims had so far proved unsuccessful, but security agencies had been formally notified of the incident.
When contacted, the Spokesperson of the Plateau State Police Command, SP Alabo Alfred, confirmed that the police were investigating the report.
Kidnapping, banditry and cattle rustling have remained persistent security challenges in Wase LGA, with residents repeatedly calling on security agencies to intensify operations against criminal elements terrorising the area.