By Augustine Ehikioya
Police officials in Zamfara State have rescued 24 kidnapped victims from Shinkafi and Tsafe Local Government Areas of the State.
This was disclosed on Tuesday by the Commissioner of Police,
Zamfara State Command, CP Ayuba N Elkanah, during the Command’s Press Briefing on the achievement recorded by the Command in the ongoing effort to rid the Command of all act of criminalities and restore lasting peace and security in the State.
It was monitored by Security Watch Africa (SWA).
The Commissioner of Police recalled that he had resolved during the last briefing to rescue all kidnapped victims through the ongoing Police search and rescue operations across the State.
He said “To God be the glory, with the support of the State Government under the leadership of His Excellency, Dr. Bello Muhammad Matawalle MON, the Executive Governor of Zamfara State, Police Tactical Operatives deployed to different locations of the State have succeeded in rescuing twenty four (24) kidnapped victims in Shinkafi and Tsafe LGAs respectively.
“Among whom were the four (4) Students of Government Day Secondary School, Birnin Yero in Shinkafi LGA who were abducted while writing their WAEC Exams and one other student of Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda.”
Giving analysis of the 24 rescued victims, he said 13 of them were kidnapped in Shinkafi, including four students of Government Day Secondary School Birnin Yero, and one student of Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda.
He said “On 22nd November, 2021 at about 1900hrs, 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 LGA, and other victims acted on intelligence information and rescued the students along with eight (8) others.
“The victims who spent sixty (60) 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 said.
According to him, 11 of the 24 rescued were kidnapped passengers along Wanzamai – Kucheri – Tsafe road.
“On 22nd November, 2021 at about 2330hrs, Two (2) 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 abducted all the passengers.
“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 (11) passengers. All the rescued victims have been debriefed and re-united with their families,” he stated.
He, however, warned 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 said.