Police authorities in Zamfara say they have rescued 24 people abducted by bandits in Shinkafi and Tsafe Local Government Areas of the state.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Ayuba Elkana, disclosed this while briefing reporters on Tuesday at the command headquarters in Gusau, the state capital.
He explained that among those rescued by the security operatives were five students, including a student of the Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda.
Elkana identified the four other students as pupils of the Government Day Secondary School, Birnin Yero in Shinkafi LGA, who were abducted on their way back from writing the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
According to him, police tactical operatives rescued the abducted victims from different locations in the state.
The police commissioner added that operatives deployed to the Gusau Tsafe – Funtua Road rescued 11 passengers who were abducted by bandits while travelling at night in two vehicles.
He warned motorists to desist from entering the state at night, saying the order of the state government restricting the movement of passengers in and outside the state at night remained.
The Commissioner for Information in Zamfara, Ibrahim Dosara, received the abducted victims from the police on behalf of the state government.
Dosara gave an assurance that the state government would ensure security around schools to protect the students in the state.
“Rescue of 13 kidnapped victims in Shinkafi, including four students of Government Day Secondary School, Birnin Yero, and one other student of the Federal Polytechnic Kaura Namoda.
“On 22nd November 2021 at about 1900hrs, Police Tactical Operatives deployed along the Shinkafi axis, while on search and rescue operations with regards to the abduction of students of Government Day Secondary school, Birni Yero in Shinkafi LGA, and other victims acted on intelligence information and rescued the students along with eight others.
“The victims who spent 60 days in captivity have now been rescued unconditionally. All the rescued victims will be medically checked, undergo police debriefing before handing them over to the State Government to be reunited with their families.
“Rescue of 11 kidnapped passengers along Wanzamai – Kucheri – Tsafe Road.
“On 22nd November 2021 at about 2330hrs, two golf vehicles with registration number AE 535 ARG and GUS 274 XF conveying passengers from Kano to Sokoto were blocked by armed bandits at Wanzamai village and abducted all the passengers.
“On receipt of the distress call, Police Tactical Operatives deployed along Gusau – Tsafe – Funtua road embarked on extensive search and rescue Operation and finally succeeded in the unconditional rescue of 11 passengers.
“All the rescued victims have been debriefed and reunited with their families.”
