Terrorists have abducted eight charcoal burners in Nyalun community, Bashar District of Wase Local Government Area in Plateau State.
The men were on their way home on Tuesday evening after they finished processing charcoal on the outskirts of the community when the terrorists struck.
They travelled in one vehicle with 10 people inside.
The terrorists took all 10 at first but later released two of them at Garga in neighbouring Kanam Local Government Area.
The two men now carry a ransom demand back to the families of those still held.
A youth leader in Wase, Shapi’i Sambo, confirmed the incident on Wednesday.
He gave the names of the eight men taken as Hassan Sa’idu, Shamsudden Abubakar, Usamatu Yakubu, Dayyabu Usman Waziri, Inkilulu Dauda, Ado Sambo, Sule Dahiru and Umar Amadu.
The two released men told relatives that the terrorists want them to sell the vehicle the group had used and bring the money as ransom.
Details of the exact amount have not come out yet.
Residents say the attack happened as the charcoal burners returned from their work site.
Charcoal production provides income for many families in the area, and people often move in groups for safety when they head out to the bush.
Wase and nearby Kanam local government areas have seen repeated attacks in recent months.
Communities there sit close to the borders with Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba states, and people have spoken about the difficulty of moving freely on the roads or working on their farms.
No security agency has issued a statement on the latest abduction at the time of this report.
Families of the eight men wait for news and prepare to respond to the demand from the terrorists.
This incident adds to the list of cases in which people who earn their living from the land or from simple trade have come under attack in Plateau State.
