The Police command in Zamfara State on Tuesday disclosed that it has rescued no fewer than twenty-four kidnap victims from bandits’ enclaves.
The rescue was carried out through the police tactical operatives in various locations of the State.
According to the State Police Commissioner, Mr. Ayuba Elkanah, with the support of the State government, Police Tactical Operatives deployed to different locations of the State succeeded in rescuing twenty four kidnapped victims in Shinkafi and Tsafe Local Government Areas of the State, respectively.
‘Among them were the four students of Government Day Secondary School Birnin Yero in Shinkafi Local Government Area who were abducted while writing their WAEC Exams and one other student of Federal Polytechnic Kaura Namoda,’ he said.
According to him, Police Tactical operatives deployed along Shinkafi axis, while on search and rescue operations with regards to the abduction of Students of Government Day Secondary school, Birni Yero in Shinkafi Local Government Area, and other victims, acted on intelligence information and rescued the students along with eight others.
‘The victims who spent sixty 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 re-united with their families,’ he stated.
He further stated that two Golf Vehicles with registration number AE 535 ARG and GUS 274 XF conveying passengers from Kano to Sokoto were blocked by armed bandits along Wanzamai village and they abducted all the passengers.
He said that 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 eleven passengers.
‘Let me use this opportunity to warn members of the public, especially travelers and commercial drivers that, the order of the State Government restricting movement into the State at night time is still in force.
‘Therefore, the Command under my watch will intensfy the arrest and prosecution of any person or group of persons found violating this order,’ he noted.
The commissioner assured that the police and other security agencies would ensure the unconditional release of all the kidnapped victims in the State considering their intensive search.
He also called on the general public to as a matter of necessity always endeavor to assist the security agencies with information that could lead to the total elimination of banditry in the State.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK