Ayomide Awe
Three newly graduated Nigerian Army personnel have reportedly been abducted by suspected bandits in Zamfara State while travelling to Kebbi State after completing their military training in Kaduna.
The soldiers were said to have been kidnapped on July 2 along the Anka axis of Zamfara after the commercial vehicle conveying them and other passengers was ambushed by heavily armed gunmen.
According to reports, the soldiers had just completed their passing-out exercise at the 26 Nigerian Army formation in Kaduna and were expected to be transported to Zuru, Kebbi State, by military authorities.
However, sources familiar with the incident alleged that the soldiers were dropped in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, late in the evening and instructed to continue the remainder of their journey on their own the following day.
The stranded personnel reportedly boarded a commercial vehicle from a motor park in Gusau on July 2, but were intercepted by bandits near Anka, where they and other occupants of the vehicle, including the driver, were kidnapped.
The kidnappers were initially said to have demanded a ransom of N50 million before reducing the amount to N5 million for each captive.
Families of the abducted soldiers alleged that despite notifying the Nigerian Army of the incident, no official communication or rescue operation had been initiated more than 13 days after the abduction.
A security analyst, who also confirmed the incident in a video posted on social media, said six newly graduated soldiers were travelling together after the passing-out parade when the attack occurred.
According to him, three of the soldiers escaped during the ambush, but only one has been reunited with his family, while the whereabouts of the remaining two are still unknown.
He alleged that the Army had abandoned the personnel in Gusau instead of conveying them to their designated destination in Kebbi State.
“The Army was supposed to transport them to Zuru after passing out, but they were dropped in Gusau because it was already late and asked to continue the journey the next morning,” he said.
“The following morning, they boarded a commercial vehicle heading for Zuru. Around Anka, bandits attacked the vehicle and kidnapped everyone inside.”
The analyst further claimed that the victims’ families had informed military authorities immediately after the abduction but had yet to receive any response.
“They said they reported the matter to the military, but nothing has been done. The families cannot afford the ransom being demanded by the kidnappers,” he added.
The incident has heightened concerns over the worsening insecurity in Zamfara and the vulnerability of security personnel travelling through bandit-prone routes.
Efforts to obtain the reaction of the Nigerian Army were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report, as the military had yet to issue an official statement on the alleged abduction.
'
'Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
