Armed bandits kidnap at least 30 people, kill two in northern Nigeria

More than 30 people have been abducted and two killed by armed bandits in several attacks on a highway in northern Nigeria’s Kaduna state, local officials said Saturday.

More than 30 people have been abducted and two killed by armed bandits in several attacks on a highway in northern Nigeria’s Kaduna state, local officials said Saturday.

The attacks are the latest in a spate of kidnappings for ransom in the Birnin Gwari district over the last two months.

“Around 18:25 on Friday, 22 people were kidnapped by armed bandits along Birnin Gwari highway, between Udawa and Labi villages”, said Isah Muhammad Galadima, spokesman for local traditional ruler the Emir of Birnin Gwari.

“The bandits, who carried heavy weapons on motorbikes, intercepted seven vehicles and kidnapped everybody, even a young mother with her baby,” Galadima told AFP.

“Earlier on Friday, another 10 people were also kidnapped along this highway by the armed bandits.”

It is worth mentioning that Kaduna has a huge Shia community that was massacred by the authorities on 2015.