Motorists and commuters traveling along the Gusau-Funtua road are calling for urgent military action to address the escalating banditry in the area.
In recent weeks, travelers have faced a surge in kidnappings, with bandits blocking the road at multiple points.
Mal Usman Kalla, a passenger traveling from Kaduna to Gusau, recounted the harrowing experience of encountering three separate bandit roadblocks.
“We had to seek refuge at a military checkpoint after the first blockade between Sheme and Yankara.
But just when we thought it was over, bandits struck again near Kucheri, and then before Tsafe, where local community guards were reportedly killed.”
Driver Abubakar Jafar confirmed the worsening conditions, stating, “Kidnapping on this road has become a daily nightmare.”
Traders like Musa Aliyu, who once frequented markets along the route, have been forced to halt their trips out of fear for their lives.
The desperate travelers are now urging the military to take decisive action, calling for an overhaul of security operations along the road. “The bandits are hiding in plain sight, and it’s time the authorities confront them head-on,” one commuter said.
Recent reports indicate that bandit activities have intensified, with kidnappings occurring even between military checkpoints.
Locals and travelers alike are pleading for a swift and robust response to restore safety on the Gusau-Funtua road.