Notorious bandits attacked passengers at Dogon-Fili near Katari on the Abuja–Kaduna highway on Sunday, kidnapping more than 30 persons.
The last reported incident on the road was on March 1, 2023, when 23 people were kidnapped.
According to a former federal lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, two of his friends narrowly escaped being kidnapped by the assailants.
He further stated on his X page that the bandits blocked the road and operated for some time even though more security operatives had been deployed to the road, compared to before now.
The Senator said his friends were both returning to Abuja from Kaduna and merely, narrowly escaped the bandits’ attack.
Sani said: “Just when we felt safer, last night (Sunday) kidnappers returned to the Kaduna-Abuja Road. They blocked the road and abducted scores of persons around 9pm near Katari village. Two of my honourable friends from both the ruling and opposition parties had to run through the bush like Usain Bolt. But despite this incident, there is a stronger security presence along the route than it used to be in the past.”
Suleiman Dan Baba, who is resident in Katari said the incident happened around 9:33pm when the bandits, wielding AK-47 rifles, emerged from the bush and blocked the two lanes, adding that they operated for about 45 minutes.
He said the bandits opened fire and flattened the tyres of some vehicles, which he said forced drivers, including commercial vehicles to stop.
“The bandits forced travellers to alight from their vehicles at gunpoint, before moving them into the bush,” the source said.
the bandits were said to have positioned themselves 1km away from Jere splitting themselves into two groups. They invaded Bishini and Kokore communities along Abuja-Kaduna highway and also kidnapped an unstated number of villagers.
A Sharon space bus and another vehicle were found empty by the roadside after the incident. A community leader in Jere, Shuaibu Adamu also confirmed that his relative escaped the attack near Dogon Fili, close to Katari town on Sunday.
“Yes, the incident happened around 9:30pm, and the operation lasted about 45 minutes around Dogon Fili near Katari on Sunday. The driver of one of the vehicles was shot and left at the scene. One of my relatives escaped the attack,” he said.
Another eyewitness said the soldiers stationed around 500 meters from Katari repelled the bandits.
“I was told the bandits blocked the road that night before the soldiers at Katari repelled them. But I don’t know if people were abducted,” he said.
On Monday, Kaduna State Overseeing Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan said he is yet to verify the incident, but promised to address the press when he has the facts.
The state Police Command’ has commenced investigations into the incidence, Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan stated.
