By Citizenship Newspaper
Suspected bandits in their numbers have abducted scores of motorists including seven officials of the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission.
Feared to be among those seized by the attackers were State Electoral Commissioner, Ahmed Mohammed (Barr. Ahmed Lawyer), his driver and former SUBEB Chairman, Mohammed Bawa Niworu.
The incident occurred on Monday Monday in the the morning around the Ibbi National Park along Zugurma-Ibbi to New Bussa road in Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State.
The victims were said to be returning from Borgu when the incident occurred, and a passersby later spotted their vehicle parked by the roadside, while the victims’ mobile phones were left behind in the vehicle.
It was gathered that the armed men blocked the road before carrying out the atrack along Ibbi-Bussa road.
The Police tactical team engaged and repelled the hoodlums, and a policeman sustained gunshot injury and was taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
A commercial vehicle driver who plies the route daily told our reporter that three vehicles with their passengers were abducted to unknown destination during the incident.
When contacted, the Niger State Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO SP Wasiu Abiodun confirmed the incident, saying a Police patrol vehicle was damaged with gunshots in the process, adding that they abducted some passengers along the road from about three vehicles.
According to him, the police command has mobilised more tactical teams with other security agencies, and vigilante members trailing the suspected kidnappers with the aim of rescuing the abducted victims and possible arrest of the hoodlums.
It could be recalled that the Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago has traveled across the world preaching agricultural revolution and calling on various investors into the state, but on ground is a failure and inability to secure the state from incessant attacks and insecurity bedeviling in the state.
