A serving member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Saadu Dauda from Zamfara State, has been kidnapped by gunmen along the Katsina-Ala–Takum road at the boundary between Benue and Taraba States.
The incident happened over the weekend when the victim was travelling in a Toyota Carina II vehicle, registered as KLD 108 AA, with six other passengers en route to Katsina-Ala from Takum in Taraba State.
According to eyewitnesses, the armed men blocked the road at Tsede Village, a known flashpoint along the route. They stopped the vehicle, robbed all passengers of their belongings, and abducted Dauda, later identified through his NYSC ID card found in a bag left behind in the car.
Security agencies have since launched a search-and-rescue operation to track down the kidnappers and secure the release of the corps member.
The Katsina-Ala–Takum road has witnessed several attacks in recent times, raising fresh concerns about the safety of travellers, especially corps members posted to remote areas.
The NYSC management and security authorities are yet to officially comment on the matter, but locals are calling for tighter patrols and improved security presence along the route.
