In a brazen daylight operation, terrorists abducted a serving police constable and three other travellers along the notorious Gusau–Sokoto federal highway in Zamfara State, heightening fears over the deteriorating security situation in Nigeria’s northwest region.
The incident occurred on Friday, January 10, 2026, at approximately 1:10 p.m. near Gidan Kano village in Maradun Local Government Area.
According to security sources and eyewitness accounts, the terrorists blocked the highway, stopping vehicles and forcibly taking the victims into an unknown location.
The abducted police officer has been identified as Constable Gaddafi Faruku of the Nigeria Police Force.
The identities of the three other victims—fellow travellers—remain undisclosed as of Tuesday evening, with authorities yet to release further details on their backgrounds or circumstances.
The attack unfolded in broad daylight, underscoring the audacity of the terrorist groups operating in the area.
The Gusau–Sokoto highway has long been a high-risk corridor, plagued by repeated ambushes, abductions, and demands for ransom.
Despite periodic military deployments and government assurances of improved security, travellers continue to face grave dangers, often resorting to travelling in convoys or avoiding the route altogether when possible.
Zamfara State remains one of the epicentres of the northwest’s prolonged security crisis, where terrorist groups—frequently described in local contexts as bandits—have established strongholds in remote forests and rural areas.
These groups engage in kidnapping for ransom, cattle rustling, village raids, and attacks on security forces, contributing to widespread displacement and economic hardship.
Security analyst Zagazola Makama, who first reported details of the abduction, noted that the victims were believed to have been taken by elements of the armed terrorist networks terrorising communities and major highways across Zamfara and neighbouring states, including Sokoto and Katsina.
Public reaction to the incident has been one of outrage and despair.
Social media users expressed frustration over the apparent inability of security agencies to secure key transportation routes, with some questioning why such attacks persist despite years of military operations in the region.
This latest abduction adds to a grim tally of incidents on the highway in recent years, where both civilians and security personnel have fallen victim to terrorist activities.
Authorities have not yet commented officially on rescue efforts or any ongoing operations to locate the victims.
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As the search continues, residents and travellers along the Gusau–Sokoto corridor are calling for urgent, decisive action to restore safety and prevent further loss of life in an area that has become synonymous with insecurity.
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