Terrorists kidnap travellers again as insecurity on the Wawa–Luma Road worsens.
The latest assault left many families worried after armed men blocked the busy route in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
Residents said the attack started around 4 p.m. and continued without resistance until about 7 p.m. on Monday.
They described the situation as frightening, as the armed men operated freely for hours.
Travellers Ambushed on Busy Route
Sources in the area said two passenger vehicles heading to Gupanti and Lumma communities were forced to stop and all the occupants were taken away.
One resident confirmed that the vehicles were ambushed at a sharp bend, leaving the travellers with no chance to escape.
He said, “Two passenger vehicles were stopped, and all the occupants were taken away. Some of the travellers were from Lumma, while others were heading to Gupanti. Another car travelling to Papiri was shot at, but the driver managed to escape.”
The resident added that the terrorists came on motorcycles, with three armed men on each motorcycle. He also confirmed that one of the kidnapped victims was Mallam Umaru from Luma-Sanke.
Attackers Split Into Multiple Groups
The attackers reportedly split into three groups after the operation.
One group was sighted around Kale, while another headed toward the Konkoje axis and the Wawa–Kaiama stretch.
The last group moved toward the Wawa–Luma axis, making it difficult for locals to trace their movement.
Residents said the attackers’ movement suggested they were familiar with the terrain, raising fresh fears about the security situation in the region.
Police Yet to Respond
Attempts to reach the spokesperson of the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, were not successful, as his phone was unreachable at the time of filing this report.
Locals are now appealing for stronger security presence along the route to protect travellers from further attacks.