Nigeria’s Chairman of Universal Basic Education, Dr. Muhammad Abubakar and his daughter were among several people kidnapped by a group of armed men Monday afternoon.
The abductions took place along the Kaduna-Abuja expressway.
A correspondent from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who narrowly escaped the attack says the incident happened a few kilometers away from Katari Village in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna state at about 3:30 pm. In addition to the kidnappings, the armed men also stole valuables and other belongings from motorists. Witnesses say many other motorists abandoned their cars and fled into the bush to avoid being kidnapped.
Drivers traveling from Kaduna to Abuja as well as those going the other way around found themselves stranded for more than 40 minutes as both lanes of the expressway were blocked by the abandoned cars. Police eventually arrived and later cleared the road to allow other motorists to continue their journeys.
Alhaji Umar Shagalinku, owner of a popular restaurant in Abuja called on the authorities to use modern technology including helicopters to track the kidnappers.
“I have been hearing about this robbery and kidnapping along Kaduna – Abuja road but today I witnessed – this is terrible and ungodly. I sincerely pray that authorities concerned will do something about these criminals so that motorists will feel safe while using this important road,” he said.
NAN says the bandits attacked the same stretch of highway on Sunday.
