At least 28 travellers were abducted by gunmen on Sunday night in Zak community, Bashar District, in Wase local government area of Plateau State.

A youth leader in Wase, Sapi'i Sambo, confirmed the abduction to newsmen in a telephone interview, saying that the victims included men, women, and children.

Another resident of Bashar town, Ibrahim Musa, also confirmed the incident, explaining that the whereabouts of the victims were still unknown.

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According to the youth leader, the victims were abducted while on their way from Zak village to Sabon Layi community to attend a Maulud event scheduled to hold on Sunday.

Sambo explained that two princes and a religious leader leading the journey were among the victims.

He said, "The incident happened around 8pm when they were heading to Sabon Layi for the event. When the gunmen ambushed the victims' vehicle at the outskirt of the community, they took away all the travellers, including the children, and abandoned the vehicle.

"It was on Monday morning that people travelling on the road saw the vehicle, which belongs to the Zak community leader, abandoned on the road. So, in the course of investigation, the community discovered it was the vehicle that was carrying the travellers that was abandoned," Sambo explained.

The youth leader said all efforts to locate the the victims were unsuccessful, adding that security forces had been informed about the situation.

Meanwhile, the Spokesperson for the Plateau State Police Command, SP Alabo Alfred, when contacted, said they were investigating the report of the incident.

LEADERSHIP reports that kidnapping, banditry, and cattle rustling have been rampant in Wase LGA generally, and residents have called on security agencies to flush out criminal elements terrorising the area.