Bandits reportedly abducted no fewer than 70 traders in Birnin Gwari-Kaduna, on Wednesday just as the whereabouts of a police vehicle that was escorting the traders was not ascertained at press time.

Besides, it was gathered that the bandits attacked the traders’ convoy in the morning and were later seized and taken away into the forests.

Reaction from the police in Kaduna on the incident was still being awaited, as the Police spokesman, ASP Mohammed Jalige, could not be reached on the telephone.

However, a resident of the area where the incident occurred, Malam Umaru, said the traders were travelling in a convoy of several vehicles with police escorts.

He said the bandits struck at a bend near Udawa after Buruku, abducted no fewer than 70 traders from the community and scores of others from neighbouring villages.

He said the bandits answered calls made to the telephone numbers of some of the kidnapped traders, a development that confirmed that about one hundred traders were abducted.

The Kaduna State Police Command told newsmen that it will make an official statement on the incident, as Jalige confirmed the incident, but declined to give details or the exact figure of the victims, saying he would give details of the attack when he gets to the office.

Sources, however, confirmed that the incident occurred about 11:00 a.m. yesterday, but no life was lost, as some of the traders, who escaped the attack, confirmed their experience through telephone calls.

A community leader from Udawa, Muhammadu Umaru told journalists that, four of his neighbours were among those that were abducted.

“The attack happened about 11:00 a.m between Udawa and Buruku on the highway. Four of my neighbours were abducted. They are traders on their way to Kaduna, while some were heading for Kano. They were in a convoy of about 30 vehicles led by a police escort,” he said.