‘Many travellers feared kidnapped’ along Abuja-Kaduna highway

Many travellers have been reportedly kidnapped by armed bandits at Kurmin Kare area of Abuja–Kaduna expressway on Friday.

DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that the suspected kidnappers opened fire on moving vehicles about 3:00pm, forcing two vehicles to stop.

While the occupants of one of the vehicles returned safely, the occupants of the other vehicle are yet to be accounted for.

The Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said the security agencies manning the road are yet to confirm the abductions as reported by a social media user.

“The Government of Kaduna State known for publicizing security developments will certainly make public feedback received by the military and police as soon as the agencies revert.

“At around 3:30pm, the Security Operations Room, a 24-hour hub, started receiving distress calls of a blockage around Kurmin Kare area of Kaduna-Abuja Road and immediately, contact was established with the Commanding Officer of Operation Thunder Strike (OPTS), a Defence Headquarters outfit, and Operation Puff Adder of the Nigeria Police for immediate counter action.

“The troops and the police operatives swiftly moved to the general area, saw motorists stranded on both lanes, and subsequently cleared the road.

“The personnel after clearing the accumulated traffic saw one Honda car with Reg. No. RBC 864BL recovered with broken rear windscreen and another vehicle found empty with some luggage. From preliminary findings, the occupant or occupants may have been unaccounted for.

“Furthermore, beside the Honda vehicle, the following five citizens hidden in the forest appeared with their driver who confirmed they were complete having escaped in the commotion,” Mr Aruwan said, giving their names as Rifkatu Yohanna, Rukayya Umar, Hauwa Jibrin, Juliana John, Yahaya Aliyu and Babangida Lawan (driver).

“As of this moment (9:40pm), the status of the occupant(s) of the Honda cannot be substantiated, and the veracity of the report that scores were kidnapped cannot be confirmed. The public will be briefed as soon as Government of Kaduna State receives operational feedback,” Mr Aruwan added.