Elsewhere, armed bandits have obstructed the busy Gusau–Funtua highway, kidnapping an unspecified number of travellers.

Correspondents gathered that the bandits set up a roadblock at the Tazame axis earlier today. The bandits abducted several travellers and remained on the road for hours.

The spokesperson of the Zamfara State Police Command, YAZID ABUBAKAR, said additional troops especially operatives of the Nigerian Police Mobile Squad have been deployed to the affected areas to clear the road.

Zamfara is one of several states in northwestern and central Nigeria terrorized by heavily armed gangs, who carry out mass abductions for ransom as well as burning and looting homes.