TheCable

The Zamfara police command says 11 persons abducted by bandits in the state have been released.

In a statement on Sunday, Muhammad Shehu, the command’s spokesman, said they were freed as part of the ongoing peace process in Zamfara.

He said the victims, most of who are from Gusau LGA, were being held hostage in a forest in Maru LGA.

“On April 9, the command, in collaboration with the state Ministry for Security and Home Affairs, secured the unconditional release of 11 kidnapped victims by a group who took them to a forest near Gobirawan Chali in Maru Local Government Area,” he said.

“10 out of the 11 victims are natives of Kyakyaka, Tungar Haki and Gidan Ango villages of Gusau Local Government Area in Zamfara, while the other victim is from Kaduna State.

“All the rescued victims have been debriefed by the police and later handed over to the Ministry of Security and Home Affairs that will reunite them with their families.

“Investigation regarding the abduction of the victims has begun and the outcome will be made public.”

Shehu also said police officers in the state, on Friday, repelled an attack by suspected bandits on Yarkala village of Bungudu LGA.

“Police operatives attached to operation Puff Adder deployed to Rawayya-Yarkala axis were alerted to the presence of large numbers of bandits who were moving to Yarkala village on an attack,” he said.

“Receiving the distress call, the operatives mobilised and dislodged the bandits. As a result, they fled to the forest with possible gunshot wounds.

“In the course of mopping up the scene, an AK-47 rifle marked 1983NI2328, and a magazine containing 10 rounds of live ammunition belonging to one of the fleeing bandits was recovered and is now in police custody.”