Bandits abduct 50 GSM dealers in Zamfara

Suspected bandits have abducted at least 50 telephone dealers along Gusau-Sokoto highway.

The phone sellers were returning from Sokoto after they attended a wedding of one of their colleagues, on Saturday.

They are mostly occupants of a popular Bebeji Plaza in Gusau, capital of Zamfara.

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The plaza is known for GSM repairs and sales.

The abducted victims were on board buses when the vehicles developed a mechanical fault.

They parked by the roadside to look into the problem when suddenly a group of armed men appeared and ordered them into the bush.

However, 20 of the abducted persons were able to escape but the remaining 30 were kidnapped were taken into the bush.

The chairman of Zamfara Chapter of the GSM Communication Union Alhaji Kabiru Garba Mukhtar, said the armed men used one of the kidnapped victim’s phone to call and alert them that 30 of their members were with them.

“When they called they didn’t demand for ransom yet. We are pleading with authorities and security operatives to do their best to rescue our members. They are not wealthy beings but ordinary business men who fend for their families through the business,” he said.

The spokesman of the state police command, SP Muhammad Shehu, could not be reached for comment at the time of filing this report.

A security operative, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told our reporter that few hours to the time, the vehicle of the victims had a minor accident along Dange town in Dange Shuni local government area of Sokoto state.

“Their vehicle hit one Toyota avensis and the owner insisted that his vehicle must be repaired. Police were then invited. They assessed the situation and found out that they were at fault. So they asked them to repair the vehicle which they did.

“The Avensis was taken to the garage where it was repaired under the supervision of the police. The accident occurred around 4pm and it took about two hours before the matter was settled.

“They left Sokoto around 6pm only for us to hear in the morning that their vehicle was blocked along Lambar Bakura in Zamfara state and some of the guests were kidnapped,” he said.

The spokesman of the Sokoto State Police Command could not be reached for comment as at the time of filing this report.

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