By MOHAMMED IBRAHIM YABA, Kaduna

Suspected bandits have killed three children and abducted their mothers along Kaduna Birnin Gwari highway in Kaduna State.

The armed men also abducted the four other children of one Muhammadu Gagare, a former official of the Nigerian an Correctional Center.

Daily Trust gathered that the gunmen had opened fire on commuters around Ungwan Dangedda near Buruku, around 11am on Thursday.

The driver of the vehicle was said to have lost control of the car after being hit by a bullet.

The father of the victims told Daily Trust that Saidu, one of the children he lost in the incident, was a student in Kaduna.

“Three of my children Saidu, Abdulrashid and Rahmatu were killed. My four other children alongside my two wives were abducted by the bandits on same day. We have not heard from their abductors because my wives had no phones with them when the incident happened,” he said.

Kaduna State Commissioner Internal Security and Homes Affairs, Samuel Aruwan confirmed the incident in a statement but said it was an accident that occurred after the bandits opened fire on the commuters.

According to him, “security report shows that the bandits attacked commuters on the road while running from aggressive patrols of the security agencies.

He said rescue efforts revealed that six persons died on the spot as listed below:

“Abdurrashid Ya’u, Sa’idu Ya’u, Ramatu Ya’u , and an unidentified infant. Others are Suwaiba Ali and Sulaiman Ustaz.”

He said after the vehicle stopped, the bandits fled the location leaving other travellers from a different vehicle with injuries.

“They are Ubale Yahuza ,Rabiu Ibrahim, Umar Musa, Saude Yusuf, Mohammed Aminu and Kadima Mercy.

He said Governor Nasir El-Rufai expressed sadness at the report, and prayed for the repose of the souls of those who perished in the incident while sending his condolences to their families. (Daily Trust)