Eight charcoal burners were abducted by gunmen on Tuesday evening in the Nyalun community, Bashar District of Wase Local Government Area, Plateau State.
The victims were reportedly returning home after processing charcoal when their vehicle was intercepted by the attackers around 7:30 p.m.
A youth leader in Wase, Shapi’i Sambo, confirmed the incident on Wednesday, noting that 10 people were initially taken but two were later released in Garga, Kanam Local Government Area, to deliver a ransom demand.
“The perpetrators stopped the vehicle and seized the occupants. It is a shocking incident because these victims were simply struggling to make ends meet,” Sambo said.
The abducted individuals have been identified as Hassan Sa’idu, Shamsudden Abubakar, Usamatu Yakubu, Dayyabu Usman Waziri, Inkilulu Dauda, Ado Sambo, Sule Dahiru, and Umar Amadu.
Sambo added that the kidnappers are believed to have taken them into the Kukawa bush, a known hideout for criminal elements in the area.
One of the released victims, Mummuni Musa, said he and another person were tied up before being set free to convey the ransom message.
“The kidnappers instructed us to go back and tell the owner of the vehicle to sell it and pay the ransom for the eight people,” he said.
The incident highlights ongoing security challenges in Wase and Kanam Local Government Areas, which have been frequent targets of kidnapping and banditry.
The abduction comes just two weeks after gunmen killed soldiers and vigilantes in Kanam.
Attempts to reach the Plateau State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Alabo Alfred, for comments were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.