Armed bandits operating along Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna Highways Sunday kidnapped 87 passengers as the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Tukur Yusuf Buratai charged troops to end the wanton killings and destruction of property in the axis in three weeks.
Concerned with the incessant kidnapping and killing, the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the area cautioned its members from plying the route pending deployment of troop and other security agencies.
An official of NURTW stated that most of the kidnapped victims were passengers travelling between North and Southern parts of the country.
The NURTW official said: “Over 15 vehicles including long trucks, buses and commercial cars were intercepted by the armed bandits who selected their victims from their look and dressing and herded them into the bush.
“We learnt that the kidnappers have started communicating and negotiating with the families of their victims, demanding for ransoms in millions of Naira.
“A man and a woman were killed Sunday while four additional passengers were also kidnapped.
“As an official of NURTW we have warned our members to henceforth stop plying the route until there is adequate security in the area.”
