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From Jude Owuamanam Jos
The peace in Zak community, Bashar district of Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State, was shattered on Sunday night when gunmen abducted 28 travellers.
A youth leader in Wase, Sapi’i Sambo, said the victims, who included women and children, were abducted on their way from Zak village to Sabon Layi community to attend a Maulud event scheduled for last Sunday.
Speaking in a telephone conversation with newsmen, Sambo, who confirmed the development said the whole community has been thrown into confusion.
Another resident of Bashar town, Ibrahim Musa, said the whereabouts of the victims were still unknown.
Sambo explained that two princes and a religious leader leading the journey were among the victims.
“The incident happened around 8 pm when they were heading to Sabon Layi for the event. When the gunmen ambushed the victims’ vehicle at the outskirts of the community, they took away all the travelers, including the children, and abandoned the vehicle.
“It was on Monday morning that people traveling on the road saw the vehicle, which belongs to the Zak community leader, abandoned on the road. So, in the course of investigation, the community discovered it was the vehicle that was carrying the travelers that was abandoned,” Sambo explained.
The youth leader said all efforts to locate the whereabouts of the victims were unsuccessful, adding that security forces had been informed about the situation.
While calling on security agencies to arrest the rampant kidnapping, banditry, and cattle rustling in Wase generally, the residents are calling on security agencies to flush out criminal elements terrorizing the area.
Spokesperson for the state police command, SP Alabo Alfred, said they were investigating the report of the incident.
