GUNMEN ABDUCT EIGHT CHARCOAL BURNERS IN WASE, PLATEAU

GUNMEN ABDUCT EIGHT CHARCOAL BURNERS IN WASE, PLATEAU

Armed gunmen have kidnapped eight charcoal burners in the Nyalun community of Wase Local Government Area, Plateau State, in a fresh sign of continuing insecurity in the region. The attack unfolded on Tuesday evening as the victims were returning home after processing charcoal on the outskirts of the community, according to local accounts. 

Witnesses say the assailants stopped the vehicle carrying the charcoal workers at about 7:30 pm, seized all occupants and forced them into nearby bushland, an area known locally as Kukawa, which has been used by criminal gangs as a hideout. Two of the passengers were later released in Garga, Kanam Local Government Area, with instructions to relay a ransom demand to relatives and associates of the eight still being held. 

Youth leader Shapi’i Sambo, who confirmed the abduction on Wednesday, described the incident as shocking, especially given that the victims were engaged in a humble livelihood activity when they were targeted. He identified the kidnapped men as Hassan Sa’idu, Shamsudden Abubakar, Usamatu Yakubu, Dayyabu Usman Waziri, Inkilulu Dauda, Ado Sambo, Sule Dahiru and Umar Amadu. 

One of the two individuals released, identified as Mummuni Musa, told reporters that the kidnappers tied up the victims before setting him and another person free to carry the ransom message. “They told us to go home and tell the owner of the vehicle to sell it and pay the ransom for the eight persons,” Musa said. 

The abduction underscores the persistent threats facing residents in parts of Plateau State, particularly in the Wase and Kanam areas, where banditry, kidnappings and criminal gang activity have been recurrent problems. In recent years, communities in these local government areas have suffered repeated attacks that have resulted in loss of life, displacement and heightened insecurity, despite ongoing efforts by authorities to curb the violence. 

Similar incidents have drawn national attention in the state. Just days earlier, a separate and deadly gunmen attack in the Jos North area of Plateau led to scores of civilians being killed, prompting a 48‑hour curfew in the region as authorities sought to quell further violence and restore order. That broader security situation, marked by clashes between herder‑farmer communities and criminal elements, continues to strain local law‑enforcement capacity. 

Residents and community leaders have reiterated calls for stronger and more sustained security measures to protect ordinary citizens engaged in everyday work such as farming and charcoal processing. The repeated targeting of unarmed civilians for ransom or violence has heightened fears among villagers, who lament limited protection and inadequate response from security agencies stationed in the region. 

Efforts to reach the Plateau State Police Command for official comment were unsuccessful as of the time of reporting, with no immediate statements issued on the abduction or the ongoing search for the victims. 

The latest kidnapping reinforces broader concerns about rural insecurity in parts of Nigeria where criminal gangs exploit remote terrain and gaps in security coverage. Families of those abducted have appealed for their safe return and urged authorities to intensify operations to rescue them without harm. 

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