Suspected bandits yesterday obstructed the busy Gusa-Funtua highway and kidnapped an unspecified number of travellers. According to Channels Television, Yusuf Tsafe, a commuter stranded in the area, said that the bandits set up a roadblock at the Tazame axis early yesterday.

The Guardian learnt that the bandits with about 50 motorcycles, each carrying three people, abducted several travellers and remained on the road for hours.
Tsafe described how the bandits began their operation at about 7:00 a.m. and continued until about 9:00 a.m.

Despite military efforts to address the situation, the road remained blocked, and as of press time, no vehicles had been allowed to pass. Another commuter confirmed that the bandits also blocked the Magazu-Kucheri Road, which links Gusau to Funtua.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police Command, ASP Yazid Abubakar, confirmed the development and said that additional troops, including operatives from the Nigerian Police Mobile Squad, have been deployed to clear the road.