Gunmen kidnap Zamfara Emir, dozens of travelers on Abuja-Kaduna highway
Gunmen have abducted of the Emir of Bungudu, Zamfara state, Alhaji Hassan Atto, and an unspecified number of commuters, along the Kaduna – Abuja highway.
Confirming the incident in a statement, the Kaduna State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Jalige, said the incident took place on Tuesday afternoon.
“Today, Sept 14, at about 3.10 pm, the Kaduna Police Command received a tragic report of an attack and kidnapping incident around Dutse village along the Kaduna-Abuja road.
“An unspecified number of people were suspected to have been kidnapped, while two others sustained varying degrees of injuries and are currently receiving medical treatment.
“Equally, available information indicated that the Emir of Bungudu, Zamfara State, His Royal Highness (HRH) Alhaji Hassan Atto, is among the people abducted to an unknown destination,” he said.
He said that reports reaching the command indicated that the commuters were intercepted by the bandits, who fired shots at random, before abducting their victims.
According to the police spokesman, operatives of the command were dispatched to restore normalcy in the area, as a result of which an officer paid the supreme price.
Jalige added that four vehicles were recovered from the scene, but that the exact number of persons kidnapped was yet to be ascertained.
Meanwhile, a reinforcement team had been dispatched to the area, with a view to rescuing the victims unhurt, Jalige added.
