Nigeria, July 5 -- Suspected bandits on Friday evening blocked the Bakori-Guga road in Katsina State and abducted at least nine travellers returning from a weekly market, a community leader and local residents have reported.

The attack reportedly occurred around 5 p.m. at Dawan La'ila, a section of the road linking Bakori and Guga communities, where the gunmen intercepted the vehicle conveying the passengers from the Bakori market.

A community leader, Mahadi Danbita, told PREMIUM TIMES in a telephone interview on Saturday that the attackers stopped the vehicle and whisked away nine passengers.

He said four of the abductees were residents of Guga while the remaining five were from Kakumi, a neighbouring community about nine kilometres a...