Passengers feared abducted on Kebbi-Abuja journey as viral video shows armed men threatening captives (VIDEO)

More than 10 travellers and their driver were reportedly seized in an attack on a vehicle travelling from Yauri, Kebbi State, to Abuja on Sunday.

More than 10 passengers travelling from Yauri, Kebbi State, to Abuja have reportedly been abducted alongside their driver in a suspected kidnapping incident that has raised fresh concerns about road safety and the threat of armed attacks on Nigerian highways.

The incident was reported to have occurred on Sunday, although details surrounding the attack, including the exact location, the identities of the victims and the circumstances under which the vehicle was intercepted, remain unclear.

A video circulating on social media appears to show some of the alleged victims being held captive by armed men. In the footage, one of the captives is seen making a telephone call to his mother while an armed man, holding what appears to be a rifle, stands close to the group.

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The disturbing scene has generated concern over the fate of the travellers and the possibility that they were being held under the threat of violence.

However, National Daily has not independently verified the authenticity of the footage, when it was recorded, or whether it directly relates to the reported abduction of passengers travelling from Yauri to Abuja.

The identities and current whereabouts of the alleged victims have also not been independently established.

Several critical details about the reported incident remain unconfirmed, including the precise route taken by the vehicle, the location where the alleged attack occurred and the identities of those responsible.

It is also unclear whether the abductors have contacted the families of the victims, made ransom demands or established any communication with security agencies.

The reported involvement of the driver alongside the passengers raises further questions about the circumstances of the journey and whether the vehicle was travelling on a commercial route or under a private arrangement.

As of the time of filing this report, no independently verified information was available to establish the number of people still in captivity or whether any rescue operation had been launched.

National Daily could not independently confirm whether the police, military or other security agencies had issued an official statement on the incident.

The reported abduction has renewed concerns about the safety of inter-state road travel, particularly for passengers undertaking long-distance journeys through areas where armed attacks and kidnappings have been reported.

For families of missing travellers, the uncertainty surrounding such incidents can be particularly distressing, especially when videos allegedly showing captives emerge online without reliable information about their location or condition.

Security experts generally stress the importance of prompt reporting, intelligence-led investigations and coordination among security agencies in responding to kidnapping incidents.

However, the specific security arrangements along the route taken by the affected travellers have not been established.

The circumstances of this particular case must therefore be clarified through credible information from the victims’ families, transport operators and relevant security authorities.

The immediate priority is to establish the identities of the alleged victims, determine where they are being held and ascertain whether security agencies are investigating the reported attack.

Authorities, if the incident is confirmed, would also need to establish the number of people abducted, identify the vehicle involved and determine the circumstances that enabled the attackers to seize the travellers.

The circulating video may provide investigators with potential leads, but its origin, recording date and connection to the reported incident would need to be authenticated before conclusions can be drawn from it.

National Daily will continue to monitor developments and update this report as verified information becomes available.

For now, the reported abduction remains a developing story, with the fate of the passengers and their driver yet to be independently confirmed.