Suspected terrorists, locally referred to as bandits, on Friday attacked commuters along the Danjibga–Kuncin Kalgo road in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, setting two vehicles on fire and abducting all passengers on board.
The assailants blocked the road before launching the attack. After forcefully seizing the occupants of the vehicles, the bandits reportedly set the vehicles ablaze. As of Saturday, the whereabouts of the abducted passengers remained unknown.
The incident was confirmed by a security alert platform, Bakatsine, which noted that the attack once again underscores the persistent insecurity on major highways across Zamfara State.
The latest attack comes just days after Nigerian security forces declared the Gusau–Magami–Dansadau Road safe for public use following a deadly Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion on December 27 that claimed at least eight lives and destroyed property along the Magami–Dansadau axis.
Following the explosion, SaharaReporters learnt that an emergency joint operation was launched on the directive of the Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Balarabe Maikaba. Specialised Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams were deployed to sweep the highway amid fears of additional planted explosives.
The operation involved Police and Military EOD units, as well as the Joint Task Force under Operation Fansa-Yamma, with armed security personnel providing cover throughout the exercise.
