Bandits kidnap 30 Muslim passengers in Buhari’s home state

Unknown gunmen suspected to be bandits have abducted about 30 Islamic faithful attending the annual Eid- Maulud celebration in Katsina state, the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari.

It was gathered the bandits attacked the passengers along Kankara-Sheme Road in Katsina state.

According to blueinknews.com, the passengers travelling in two big buses were abducted Thursday night while on their way to the annual celebration scheduled for Sokoto.

It was gathered that the gunmen initially abducted 50 passengers but later voluntarily released 20.

They were said to be on their way to Sokoto from Kano state.

However, there was no information on whether the gunmen had contacted the relations of the victim.

Katsina is one of the state’s most affected by terrorism and banditry in Nigeria’s North-West region.

On December 11, 2020, some bandits kidnapped 344 students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara. They were released about a week later. 

However, on December 19, bandits kidnapped 84 Islamiyya students of Hizburrahim Islamiyya in Mahuta village, Dandume Local Government Area of the state were also kidnapped but rescued shortly after.

However, the Katsina State Police command has dismissed the report.

The command’s spokesman, Gambo Isah, told journalists the passengers were not abducted but fled into the forest when they came in contact with the bandits on Thursday night.

He added that 43 persons had been found by the police.

Gambo said: “It is not true. What happened was that on Thursday night around 23:15hours, there were these passengers from Gombe State going to Sokoto for Maulid. So between Sheme and Kankara, I think maybe bandits came out and these people were apprehensive and abandoned their three vehicles and fled into the forest for safety.

“Later this morning, the search parties and DPO went into the forest and 43 passengers have been found.”

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