At least 22 people have been abducted from a kidnapping hotspot in Nigeria just one day after it was patrolled by Nigeria's police chief.
This stretch of the Abuja-Kaduna highway, in north-western Kaduna state, is notorious for attacks blamed on armed gangs, known locally as bandits, who run huge money-making kidnapping operations.
Local residents told the BBC that large numbers of bandits, clad in military uniforms and wielding sophisticated weapons, stormed Angwar Maji village, which is located close to the highway, on Sunday night.
They reportedly went from house to house, selecting their victims before marching them away at gun point.
Many people thought it was a military operation until some of the victims who escaped later returned to say they had been kidnapped.
It follows last week's horrific attack on a busy train travelling from the capital, Abuja, to the city of Kaduna. Earlier this month, there were reports that Kaduna's airport was attacked.
In the last 24 months in Nigeria alone, armed gangs have killed hundreds of people and forced thousands to flee their homes.
Latest Stories
-
Shamima Muslim urges youth to lead Ghana’s renewal at 18Plus4NDC anniversary
20 minutes -
Akufo-Addo condemns post-election violence, blames NDC
28 minutes -
DAMC, Free Food Company, to distribute 10,000 packs of food to street kids
2 hours -
Kwame Boafo Akuffo: Court ruling on re-collation flawed
2 hours -
Samuel Yaw Adusei: The strategist behind NDC’s electoral security in Ashanti region
2 hours -
I’m confident posterity will judge my performance well – Akufo-Addo
2 hours -
Syria’s minorities seek security as country charts new future
3 hours -
Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo re-appointed as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana
3 hours -
German police probe market attack security and warnings
3 hours -
Grief and anger in Magdeburg after Christmas market attack
3 hours -
Baltasar Coin becomes first Ghanaian meme coin to hit DEX Screener at $100K market cap
4 hours -
EC blames re-collation of disputed results on widespread lawlessness by party supporters
4 hours -
Top 20 Ghanaian songs released in 2024
5 hours -
Beating Messi’s Inter Miami to MLS Cup feels amazing – Joseph Paintsil
5 hours -
NDC administration will reverse all ‘last-minute’ gov’t employee promotions – Asiedu Nketiah
5 hours