Armed bandits have blocked the Gusau-Funtua highway in Zamfara State, Nigeria, abducting multiple travelers. Witnesses reported the presence of about 50 motorcycles carrying bandits. The military has been deployed to the area to restore order amid rising tensions from ongoing banditry and kidnappings in the region.
Armed bandits have disrupted traffic on the Gusau-Funtua highway in Zamfara State, leading to the abduction of several travelers. This incident unfolded early Thursday morning when the bandits, riding on around 50 motorcycles, set up a blockade near the Tazame area.
Witnesses described a scene of panic, with one commuter, Yusuf Tsafe, recalling, “They entered the road around 7 am, and by 9 am, they were still there. We had to park by the roadside, waiting for military assistance, while we saw bandits taking people into the bush.”
Military forces arrived at the scene amid reports of gunfire, yet the highway remained impassable, with travelers stranded. Another commuter confirmed that the Magazu-Kucheri road, linking Gusau to Funtua, was also obstructed.
The spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police Command, ASP Yazid Abubakar, stated that additional police troops have been sent to the affected regions to help restore order.
Zamfara has been plagued by banditry, with armed groups frequently engaging in kidnappings for ransom and attacking local communities. This escalating violence has raised alarms over the increasing threat these gangs pose, particularly as they may be aligning with broader jihadist movements within Nigeria.
