Not less than 97 persons abducted by bandits in Shinkafi and Tsafe Local Goverment of Zamfara State have been released.
This was confirmed on Tuesday by the State Police authorities who noted that the Victims were reportedly stranded in a bush upon intelligence gather by the force before they were brought home.
Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, Ayuba Elkanah, told reporters in a briefing that among those who regained freedom included seven pregnant women, 19 babies, and 16 minors.
“Following an extensive pressure mounted as a result of the ongoing military operation around the camp of a notorious bandits’ kingpin known as Bello Turji that covers Shinkafi, Zurmi and Birnin Magaji Local Government areas, on 3rd January 2022, police tactical operatives deployed at Shinkafi axis received an intelligence report that some kidnapped victims were seen stranded in the bush,” the Commissioner said.
He narrated that 68 people were released in Shinkafi while 29 others regained freedom in Tsafe.
He noted that the Victims were successfully rescued with the help of “genuine repentant bandits” after the they had stayed in custody of their abductors for over three months.
“The police operatives in collaboration with genuine repentant bandits and vigilante swung into action and rescued 68) victims from the forest.
“The victims were in captivity for over three months and they include 33 male adults, seven male children, three female children, and 25 women including pregnant/nursing mothers respectively. The victims hailed from Magarya, Maradun, Gusau of Zamfara State and Sabon Birni LGA in Sokoto State.”
Elkanah revealed that on the same day – Monday, police tactical operatives deployed in Tsafe axis acted on intelligence report and stormed Kunchin Kalgo forest in Tsafe LGA where they rescued 29 kidnapped victims.
The victims, according to him, were abducted for over 60 days from three villages namely Adarawa, Gana, and Bayawuri in Rijiya District of Gusau LGA.
The victims, said to have been abducted by a bandits’ kingpin Ado Aleru, include 25 females including pregnant and nursing mothers, and four male children.
Elkanah said all the rescued victims were treated by the joint medical teams of the state government and the police
He stated that they would be debriefed and handed over to the state government before being reunited with their families.
“I want to use this opportunity to express our appreciation to the state government under the leadership of His Excellency Dr Bello Muhammad Matawalle MON, for his continuous support and assistance to the police and other security agencies in the state,” the police commissioner said.
“This kind gesture has gone a long way in making security operatives more effective and efficient in the discharge of their duties.”