Gunmen have abducted 28 travelers in Zak community, Bashar district of Wase Local Government Area, Plateau State, in an attack that occurred on Sunday night, local sources have confirmed.
A youth leader in Wase, Sapi’i Sambo, who confirmed the incident in a telephone interview, said the victims included men, women, and children. He explained that the travelers were on their way from Zak village to Sabon Layi community to attend a Maulud celebration scheduled for Monday when they were ambushed.
According to Sambo, the attack occurred at about 8:00 p.m. on the outskirts of the community. He said the gunmen intercepted the vehicle conveying the travelers, abducted all occupants including children and abandoned the vehicle at the scene.
“The victims included two princes and a religious leader who were leading the journey,” Sambo said, adding that the abandoned vehicle, which belongs to the Zak community leader, was discovered on Monday morning by other road users.
Another resident of Bashar town, Ibrahim Musa, also confirmed the incident, noting that the whereabouts of the abducted travelers remain unknown.
Sambo said efforts by the community to trace the victims have so far been unsuccessful, noting that security agencies have been informed of the incident.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Plateau State Police Command, SP Alabo Alfred, said the police are investigating the report.
Meanwhile, residents of Wase have expressed growing concern over rising kidnapping, banditry, and cattle rustling in the area, calling on security agencies to intensify efforts to rid the community of criminal elements.
Sunday Buna Ibrahim is a seasoned journalist with Daily Frontier (dailyfrontier.com.ng), where he reports on security, conflicts, and humanitarian issues across Nigeria’s Middle Belt, particularly Plateau and Benue States. He also serves as a News Producer at Vision FM Radio in Abuja. Prior to joining Daily Frontier, he worked with Radio Nigeria, Fombina FM Yola in Adamawa State between 2019 and 2020.
