Gunmen suspected to be bandits have reportedly kidnapped about 30 passengers at Garin Gabas in Rafi Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State while travelling in an 18-seater bus and two other vehicles. Niger State Commissioner of Police, Mr Monday Kuryas, confirmed the abduction of 13 passengers in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN). According to Kuryas about 3:30 pm, the Zungeru Divisioonal Police Officer reported that one Mubarak Idris of Kwanawa village, Sokoto State, who was the driver of the 18-seater bus, lodged a complaint at the station. He added that, the driver said his vehicle, loaded with 18 passengers from Yauwuri, Kebbi State, mostly fishermen, was heading for Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on fishing activities. On getting to a sharp bend in Konar Barau along the Tegina-Minna Road, suspected bandits in military uniform kidnapped 13 of his passengers and his motor boy.
He said the assailants also dispossessed the driver of about N131,500.
The commissioner who said an “aggressive manhunt” for the hoodlums had commenced, also solicited for any useful information from residents of the area that would assist the police in tracking the kidnappers.
An eyewitness who begged for anonymity narrated that after the kidnap incident the kidnappers ran into the Kundu forest in Rafi to rustle cattle.
