Suspected bandits loyal to notorious leader Bello Turji have abducted 10 passengers and burned their vehicle on the Kaura-Namoda-Shinkafi Road in Zamfara State.
The attack occurred at Kwanar Jalab village, Shinkafi Local Government Area, early on New Year’s Day.
Garba Sani, an eyewitness, said, “This is the first time we are witnessing bandits burning vehicles after abducting passengers. They usually kidnap people but never destroy their means of transportation.”
The incident happened after Turji warned of attacks if his detained brother, Baka Wurgi, was not released by December 2024.
Wurgi was reportedly taken by military personnel from a hospital bed at the Shinkafi General Hospital.
An All Progressives Congress chieftain, Sani Shinkafi, urged security forces to act decisively.
“I call on security agents to address Turji’s threats before more innocent people suffer. The military must respond swiftly,” he said.
The Defence Headquarters has dismissed Turji’s threats, with Major General Edward Buba calling him “a dead man walking.”
Buba added, “All terrorist leaders before him met their end. Turji will be no exception in 2025.”
Residents believe the abductions and vehicle burning are linked to Turji’s ultimatum.
“Turji threatened violence unless his brother was freed, and this attack seems to be part of that threat,” Sani explained.
Security forces are intensifying efforts to locate the victims and apprehend the perpetrators.
However, there has been no official comment from Defence Media Operations regarding the latest attack.
The kidnapped passengers were travelling from Gusau to Shinkafi when their vehicle was ambushed around 8 a.m.
The burnt vehicle has heightened fears among locals about increasing violence in the area.
Efforts to reach Major General Buba for further clarification were unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, residents continue to call for stronger security measures to prevent further attacks in the region.
This marks another grim chapter in Zamfara’s ongoing battle against banditry, with civilians bearing the brunt of escalating violence.
