Bandits Ambush Abuja-Bound Bus, Abduct Driver, Over 10 Passengers in Kebbi

Bandits Ambush Abuja-Bound Bus, Abduct Driver, Over 10 Passengers in Kebbi

YAURI, KEBBI — Armed bandits have reportedly intercepted a commercial passenger vehicle travelling from Yauri, Kebbi State, to Abuja, abducting the driver and more than 10 passengers in an incident that has raised fresh concerns about the safety of travellers along the route.

The reported attack occurred on Sunday, October 25, 2026, according to information accompanying accounts of the incident circulating on social media. The exact location of the interception has not been independently verified.

The driver was identified in the circulating reports as IBB Birni Yauri. The identities of the other passengers and their current whereabouts have not been independently established.

A video circulating on social media, reportedly showing the abducted passengers, depicts a group of people held at gunpoint in what is claimed to be an undisclosed forest location. The footage appears to show armed men forcing captives to contact relatives and community members to seek ransom payments.

One of the individuals shown in the video appears to be blindfolded with a red cloth, while a man identified in the accompanying reports as the driver appeals to family members, friends and members of the public for help.

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A captive is also heard pleading for assistance, saying the group is in serious danger. However, the identities of all those shown in the footage, the location where it was recorded and the circumstances surrounding its production have not been independently verified.

As of Tuesday, October 27, no official statement confirming the reported incident had been identified from the Kebbi State Police Command, the Federal Capital Territory Police Command or military authorities overseeing Operation Fansan Yamma. Consequently, the precise circumstances of the alleged attack and the status of any search-and-rescue operation remain unclear.

Separately, reports indicate that troops operating under Sector 2 of Operation Fansan Yamma recently rescued three kidnap victims in Sakaba Local Government Area of Kebbi State. However, no verified information available for this report establishes a connection between that operation and the alleged Yauri–Abuja highway abduction.

The reported incident has renewed concerns about the safety of interstate travel in northwestern Nigeria, particularly for passengers travelling between communities in the region and the Federal Capital Territory.

The families of the allegedly abducted passengers are awaiting reliable information about their relatives. As of publication, the number of victims, any ransom demands, the identities of the abductors and the progress of efforts to secure the passengers’ release remain unconfirmed.

Bandits Ambush Abuja-Bound Bus, Abduct Driver, Over 10 Passengers in Kebbi