Gunmen abducted at least 28 people who were traveling to attend the Maulud rally in Zak village, Bashar District of Wase Local Government Area, Plateau State.
The attack occurred on Sunday night when the attackers intercepted a vehicle carrying travelers near the village of Zak and forcibly took all the occupants into the bush, leaving the vehicle behind.
A Wase youth leader, Shafi’i Sambo, told reporters that the kidnapped victims included men, women and children.
According to him, those kidnapped included two sons of traditional rulers and a religious leader who was leading the group to the Maulud event.
“The incident occurred around 8:00 pm when they were heading to Sabon Layi for the Maulud meeting. The armed men stopped the vehicle near the village and took everyone inside, including women and children, and abandoned the vehicle there,” Sambo said.
He added that the abandoned vehicle, which belongs to the head of Zak village, was discovered early Monday morning by other road users passing through the area.
A Bashar resident, Ibrahim Musa, said the whereabouts of the kidnapped travelers were still unknown at the time of writing.
Sambo said all efforts by the community to locate the victims had so far been unsuccessful, adding that security agencies had been informed of the incident.
Confirming the development, the Plateau State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Alabo Alfred, said the command was aware of the report and had commenced investigation.
Residents of Wase have expressed concern over rising cases of kidnapping, banditry and cattle rustling in the area, and have called on security agencies to take decisive action to protect lives and restore peace.