ABUJA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- A local official on Wednesday confirmed the abduction of a member of the Nigerian parliament by gunmen who assailed his vehicle on Abuja-Kaduna expressway.
Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of the northwestern state of Kano told Xinhua the national lawmaker, identified as Garba Durbunde, was whisked to an unknown location by his assailants.
Ganduje described the kidnapping as "an act of wickedness perpetrated by evil and cold-hearted elements."
Gurbunde was traveling along that axis when the abductors went after his vehicle.
The governor said security operatives had launched a search for the abductors.
A family source said the gunmen had not yet contacted the victim's relatives for ransom.
Abduction is common in Nigeria, Africa's most populous country. Most foreigners and ransomable citizens seized by gunmen in the country were usually released unharmed after paying a ransom.
