Unending Insecurity In North West
OpenLife Nigeria reports that gunmen suspected to be armed terrorists have abducted a member of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Honourable Usman Garba, popularly known as Zingo, in yet another brazen attack along the troubled North-West highways.
The lawmaker, who represents Kajuru Constituency, was reportedly kidnapped on Wednesday, February 11, while returning from an official engagement in Zamfara State to Kaduna.
Popular Northwest security journalist, Bakatsine, broke the news on X (formerly Twitter), writing:
“BREAKING: Hon. Usman Garba Zingo has reportedly been abducted by armed bandits while traveling from Zamfara to Kaduna today.
“The incident adds to growing concerns over insecurity along the highways in North-West region, as calls mount for urgent action. How are security agencies responding to escalating abductions on highways?”
It was gathered that the terrorists reportedly double-crossed Garba’s vehicle near the Kaduna metropolis, forcibly pulled him out and bundled him into their own vehicle, leaving his driver behind.
The driver was said to have rushed to the nearest police station to report the incident. However, by the time security operatives arrived at the scene, the attackers had already fled with the lawmaker.
As of the time of filing this report, the abductors had yet to establish contact with Garba’s family members or the Kaduna State Government regarding any ransom demand.
The abduction has further heightened fears over the worsening security situation across the North-West, where highways have increasingly become hunting grounds for armed gangs. Travellers along major routes in Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, and Sokoto states have repeatedly fallen victim to kidnappings, ambushes and deadly attacks.
Just a day before the lawmaker’s abduction, armed bandits attacked vehicles conveying traders from Kaura Namoda Local Government Area to Talata Mafara Local Government Area in Zamfara State.
The terrorists opened fire on the vehicles, injuring several passengers.
The wounded traders are currently receiving treatment at Mafara Hospital.
SaharaReporters had also reported that two police inspectors and four civilians were killed after heavily armed bandits stormed Tse-Kaseve village in Anyagba Ward, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State.
The attack, which occurred at about 4:00 p.m. on Monday, reportedly saw scores of gunmen riding on nearly 100 motorcycles invade the community in a coordinated assault.
Security sources told Zagazola Makama, a security expert, that the attackers attempted to overrun the village market and unleash a massacre on residents before they were confronted by security operatives.
“Eleven Police Mobile Force (PMF) personnel on special duty in the town, working with members of the Benue State Civil Protection Guard, confronted and repelled the attackers,” the sources said.
However, the situation turned deadly when the bandits allegedly ambushed two officers — Inspector Adams Saidu and Inspector Edem Endimon, both of 11 PMF, Calabar — shooting them dead and carting away their service rifles.
The sources further disclosed that four civilians were killed during the assault, while another resident sustained injuries and was rushed to Katsina-Ala Hospital for treatment.
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