Gunmen kidnap ‘many travellers’ on Zamfara highway

Gunmen have reportedly kidnapped an unspecified number of travellers along the busy Gusau-Funtua highway in Zamfara state. 

The armed assailants were said to have blocked the expressway on Thursday morning before whisking away commuters on the Tazame axis of the road.

Yazid Abubakar, police spokesperson in Zamfara, told TheCable that operatives have been dispatched to the area.

“Officers have been deployed there,” he said.

Abubakar added that he would provide updates after he has been briefed.

Zamfara is one of the north-west states grappling with escalating gunmen attacks and abductions.

Last week, Dauda Lawal, governor of Zamfara, said his administration will not negotiate with bandits terrorising the state.

Lawal also denied that his government released huge funds for dialogue and rehabilitation of bandits.

“We still maintain the position that we will not negotiate with terrorists. Our administration has been unequivocal in its approach to addressing the security challenges facing our state,” Abubakar Nakwada, secretary to the state government, who represented Lawal at an event, said.