UBEC chairman kidnapped in Kaduna | EduCeleb
Kabeerah Aremu
29th April 2019
The Chairman of the Governing Board of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Mohammed Abubakar is among the dozens of people kidnapped on Monday along the Kaduna-Abuja expressway.
The attack reportedly occurred around 3pm at Kurmin Kare Village in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
According to Daily Nigerian, Mr Abubakar was kidnapped along with his daughter while traveling to Abuja.
It was gathered that his driver was shot dead on the spot as the assailants shot sporadically at moving vehicles.
“It is true he was kidnapped today alongside his daughter. They shot his driver on the spot,” the source who preferred not to be named said.
The newspaper also quoted a witness, Mohammed Dambatta, who escaped the attack as also confirming that the kidnappers shot sporadically into the air.
According to him, the kidnappers opened fire on Abuja-bound travellers, forcing at least 15 vehicles to stop and successfully shepherded the occupants into the bush.
“I counted about 15 vehicles without occupants, including a police van, a Kano Line bus and a jeep. The driver of the jeep was apparently shot. Some of those who emerged from the bush after the attack suffered gunshot wounds,” he said.
Meanwhile, the police spokesperson in Kaduna State, Yakubu Sabo has confirmed the incident.
In a statement sent to EduCeleb.com, he said the police “received information through DPO Katari that at about 1530hrs, he got a distress call that “Armed Men in military uniform intercepted a Land Cruiser Jeep with Reg. No 07E o4 FG and Toyota Sienna with Reg. No SLJ 465 TN at Kurmin Kare Village along Kaduna – Abuja Express Way, opened fire on the vehicles in the process the driver of the jeep was shot dead while the occupants; Dr. Muhammad Abubakar who is the chairman of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and his daughter were kidnapped.”
“Two persons, one Alowonle Olalere and Onuka Victor both of Ibadan Oyo State were injured and rescued to Katari Police Station.”
The police Commissioner of Police CP Ahmad Abdur-Rahman appealed to members of the public to support the Police with relevant information that could assist in apprehending the perpetrators of the heinous act while promising that updates would be provided later.