Bannu – June 29, 2025: In a serious escalation of criminal activity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s southern region, armed men hijacked three oil tankers and abducted seven individuals, including drivers and assistants, in the Narmuk area of Bannu, police officials confirmed on Saturday.

The incident has prompted security alerts in the region, with law enforcement agencies launching a search and rescue operation in coordination with tribal police and intelligence units.

Incident Details

According to the Bannu Police:

• The incident took place on the Bannu-Dera Ismail Khan highway, a key logistical route for fuel supply
• The abducted individuals were traveling with three oil tankers carrying petroleum products
• The attackers, believed to be from a local militant-affiliated group, took the hostages into the nearby hilly forested areas of Jani Khel

“We have traced the suspected escape routes and teams are actively working to recover the hostages and vehicles,” said a senior police officer.

Rising Insecurity in Southern KP

This incident is the latest in a growing wave of militant and criminal activities in the southern districts of KP, particularly Bannu, Tank, Lakki Marwat, and Dera Ismail Khan, where:

• Security personnel have been targeted
• Civilians and traders have reported increased extortion threats
• Oil and goods transporters are frequently attacked or robbed

Transporters’ associations have expressed outrage, demanding improved highway security and protection for logistics convoys, especially in high-risk areas.

Authorities Mobilized

KP Police and Frontier Constabulary units have been deployed, while drone surveillance and ground intelligence units are assisting in locating the abductors.

The district administration has also engaged local elders in Jani Khel and surrounding areas to mediate and aid in safe recovery, a practice occasionally used in tribal belt negotiations.

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