RismadarVoice Reporters, April 1, 2026
Gunmen have abducted eight charcoal burners in Nyalun community, Bashar District of Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The incident occurred on Tuesday evening as the victims were returning home after processing charcoal on the outskirts of the community.
A youth leader in Wase, Shapi’i Sambo, who confirmed the development on Wednesday, said the attackers initially abducted 10 persons but later released two in Garga, Kanam Local Government Area, to deliver a ransom message.
“The victims were returning around 7:30 pm when the perpetrators suddenly stopped their vehicle loaded with charcoal and took them away,” Sambo said, describing the incident as shocking.
He identified the abducted victims as Hassan Sa’idu, Shamsudden Abubakar, Usamatu Yakubu, Dayyabu Usman Waziri, Inkilulu Dauda, Ado Sambo, Sule Dahiru, and Umar Amadu.
According to him, the kidnappers are believed to have taken the victims into the Kukawa bush, an area known for criminal hideouts.
One of the two released victims, Mummuni Musa, said the abductees were restrained before he and another person were freed to relay the kidnappers’ demand.
“The kidnappers told us to go home and tell the owner of the vehicle to sell it and pay the ransom for the eight persons,” he said.
Communities in Wase and neighbouring Kanam Local Government Areas have recorded recurring cases of kidnapping and banditry in recent years.
The latest incident comes barely two weeks gunmen reportedly killed soldiers and vigilantes in Kanam LGA.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Plateau State Police Command, DSP Alabo Alfred, for official confirmation were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
