A Nigerian Army colonel has been abducted by bandits after running into an ambush along Abuja-Kaduna Highway, military sources have told Peoples Gazette.

SB Onifade was on a road trip at about 3:00 a.m. on September 27 when he was abducted. He has yet to be found and no arrests have been made in connection with the violence, which occurred near the Olam Farms axis of the crucial highway.

The officer was not in military uniform when he was kidnapped, military sources said.

The Gazette learnt that the development has sent panic through the Nigerian Army Headquarters, which promptly issued a warning to officers to be wary of road trips. 

Motorists have become increasingly fearful about using Abuja-Kaduna Highway amidst worsening exploits of kidnappers, whose number and intensity have failed to subside despite several interventions by security forces.

A spokesperson for the Nigerian Army did not immediately return requests seeking comments about Mr. Onifade’s abduction Monday afternoon.