Police thwarted a kidnapping attempt
On Wednesday, February 21, the Zamfara State Police Command reported that its operatives successfully thwarted a kidnapping attempt by a group of bandits on the Gusau-Sokoto Road.
According to sources, the bandits, numbering in large, obstructed the Gusau-Sokoto Road with the intent of abducting travelers using the route.
According to local sources, it is alleged that the bandits managed to seize 26 passengers before the security agents arrived on the scene.
Nevertheless, Yazid Abubakar, the spokesperson for the state Police Command, confirmed the road blockade but maintained that no individuals were abducted.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) reported that the police effectively pursued the bandits and thwarted the attempted kidnapping.
“The Zamfara State Police Command aims to address the circulating news regarding the alleged blocking of the Gusau-Sokoto highway by bandits and the reported abduction of 26 travelers at Kwaren Kirya village in the Maru Local Government Area,” he stated.
“However, on February 20, 2024, at approximately 09:00, we received information from Good Samaritans indicating that bandits had indeed blocked the Gusau-Sokoto highway with the intention of carrying out their criminal activities.”
Upon receiving the information, the Divisional Police Officer of the Maru division promptly mobilized the anti-kidnap team in conjunction with the police Mobile Force unit deployed by the command headquarters for swift intervention.
Together, they initiated action and engaged the bandits in a gunfire exchange. As a result of the combined pressure exerted by the two police teams, the bandits fled into the bush, likely sustaining gunshot wounds.
Consequently, the command seeks to clarify that the notion of the bandits abducting 26 passengers from a Toyota 18-seater bus and a Volkswagen golf vehicle is erroneous and misleading information.
No travelers were abducted as police personnel swiftly intervened to resolve the situation. Normalcy has been reinstated, and precautionary measures have been implemented to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Abubakar encouraged the residents of the state to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies by providing valuable intelligence information, which is crucial for ensuring the safety of lives and property.
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