TheCable

Two sons of Bello Dankande, a former commissioner of Zamfara state, alongside an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have been abducted by gunmen.

Muhammad Shehu, spokesman of the Zamafara police command, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, adding that one person was killed, while a woman sustained injuries.

He said the incident took place at Dankande’s residence in Gamji, Bakura local government area of the state on Tuesday.

“At about 4:30am, a large number of armed men invaded the house and kidnapped two of his children and two others including an NSCDC officer on guard duty at the house,” the statement read.

“One person was shot dead, while a woman was wounded in the process.”

Shehu said the command had deployed its operatives on a search-and-rescue mission for the victims, as well as to apprehend the assailants.

“The Command further assures the former commissioner and indeed all the people of the state that it would do everything possible to get the abductees released and back home as was the case of the six kidnapped victims, including two district heads of Basasa and Ruwan Gizo in Talata Mafara and Bakura local government areas,” Shehu said.

“The Command appeals to members of the public to avoid confronting gunmen during such invasion but report the incident on time to the police or any security agency nearest to them for prompt action.”

According to the spokesman, normalcy has returned to the area while the command will update members of the public on any development.

Dankande was a former commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs during the administration of Abdul’aziz Yari, former governor of Zamfara.

In November 2019, a court had ordered his remand in prison over allegations of his involvement in kidnapping and cattle rustling.