By Augustine Ehikioya
Police officers attached to the Zamfara State Police Command have rescued 187 kidnapped victims.
The rescue operations were carried out at Tsibiri forest in Maradun Local Government Area (LGA) of the State.
The victims were abducted in Rini Village of Bakura LGA, Gora Village of Maradun LGA, Sabon Birni Village and Shinkafi in Shinkafi LGA.
These were contained in a statement issued on Thursday by Police Public Relations Officer, SP Mohammed Shehu, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Zamfara State Command, and made available to Security Watch Africa (SWA).
The statement also said the rescued victims have been handed over to the State government for medical treatment before they are reunited with their families.
It reads “Following the implementation of the new security measures by Zamfara State Government, the Police and other Security Agencies have been carrying out assaults on identified bandits locations in different parts of the State with a view to riding the State of all activities of recalcitrant bandits and other criminal elements.
“Today 7the October, 2021, Police Tactical operatives in a Joint operations at Tsibiri Forest in Maradun LGA succeeded in the unconditional rescue of 187 victims abducted in Rini Village of Bakura LGA, Gora Village of Maradun LGA, Sabon Birni Village and Shinkafi in Shinkafi LGA, respectively.
“The abducted victims who spent many weeks in captivity were unconditionally rescued following an extensive search and rescue operations that lasted for hours.”
The statement went on “The Commissioner of Police, Zamfara State Command, CP Ayuba N Elkanah, while handing over the rescued victims to the Representative of His Excellency, Dr. Mohammed Bello Matawalle MON, and also the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Kabiru Balarabe Sardaunan Dan Isa, said, the new security measures in the State have been yielding tremendous result, as it has led to the successful rescue of many abducted victims that run into hundreds, and have been reunited with their respective families.
“Similarly, bandits and their collaborators have been arrested, some have been charged to court while others are undergoing discreet investigation at the State CID, Gusau.”
The Commissioner of Police also assured that, Police and other Security Agencies will continue to put in their best to ensure the return of lasting peace and security in the State.
He sympathised with the victims for the suffering they passed through while in captivity and promised that the Police will redouble their commitment to protect lives and properties of the citizens of Zamfara State.
The Representative of His Excellency while taking over the rescued victims “thanked the Police and other Security Agencies for their resilience and hard work in the enforcement of the new security measures, and assured them of the State government continuous support and encouragement to perform their duties effectively.
He said that the State government will ensure that “the victims are adequately treated before being reunited with their families.”