Bandits Abduct 2 Policemen, Monarch, 21 Others In Taraba

 

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have abducted two policemen, pregnant woman, a second class traditional ruler, his family members and other villagers numbering 23 at Pupule village of Yoro local government area of Taraba State.

One of the villagers, Mr Tundu Ibahem, told correspondent that the bandits invaded the community yesterday at about 2 am on motorcycles armed with guns.

They allegedly shot sporadically and forcefully took their victims from their residences to unknown destinations.

He said the second class chief of the area, Alhaji Umaru Abubakar, was abducted at gunpoint alongside his son while the pregnant woman was also taken with some of her family members.

Ibahem said no contact had been established with the abductors since the incident occurred.

He said, "The people of Pupule were still in their beds when the gunmen invaded the area on motorcycles; they were over 20 in number and were armed with sophisticated weapons; they were shooting sporadically and forcing people to climb their motorcycles; everybody was afraid of being killed, therefore, there was no resistance.”

The state police command confirmed the incident through its spokesperson, Abdullahi Usman. He said two policemen (an inspector and a sergeant) who were on duty and 16 others were kidnapped in Pupule community.

He said the police command had deployed operatives of the Police Strike Force and Anti-kidnapping Squad in the area to rescue the victims and arrest the criminals for prosecution.