Suspected kidnappers have abducted 25 marriage guests along Wukari-Takum road in Taraba State on Wednesday.
It was gathered that the youths were taken at about 6 pm on their way back to Takum from Wukari where they attended a marriage ceremony.
InsightnaijaTV reports that the guests, who are all males, ran into a roadblock mounted by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers.
The reports said the victims were travelling in a commercial bus and ran into a roadblock at a spot between Kofan Amadu and Chanchangi before the gunmen commandeered the bus into the bush.
A relative of some of the victims, Muhammed Takum, told Daily Trust that the victims had attended the wedding ceremony of a friend in Wukari and were abducted while on their way back to Takum.
He said kidnappers and bandits chased from Benue State had regrouped in the forest along Wukari-Takum and Takum-Katsina-Ala roads terrorising innocent travellers.
Another source told our correspondent last night that the abductors had called families of the victims and demanded ransom.
“They confirmed that they are in the custody of all the 25 youths but did not mention the amount to be paid for each of them as ransom,” he said. The source further informed our reporter that the boys of the late notorious bandit, Terwase Akwaza, alias Gana, were responsible for the kidnapping.
“The abductors did not allow relations of the youths to speak with them. They told us that we should not panic as all the 25 youths and their driver are alive, safe and in good health. They said all they want is ransom for each person,” he said.
The spokesperson of Taraba Police command, DSP David Misal, had earlier on Thursday confirmed the incident.
“We confirmed that they are missing but not established either kidnapped or otherwise. An investigation has commenced,” he said.
