Police foil bandits’ attack in Zamfara, free 25 hostages

The Zamfara State Police Command has successfully rescued 25 abducted residents, including 10 women and 15 children, after armed bandits launched a night attack on Kuraje village in the Damba area of Gusau Local Government Area.

The incident occurred late Friday around 9:45 pm, when heavily armed bandits stormed the community, firing sporadically before abducting the women and children.

In a statement released on Saturday, the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Yazid Abubakar, confirmed that police operatives from the Damba Division, the Department of Operations in Gusau, and members of the Community Protection Guards (CPG) swiftly mobilised after receiving a distress call.

“Upon receiving the report, joint police patrol teams and the CPG moved to the scene, confirmed the incident, pursued the fleeing bandits, and engaged them in a coordinated and strategic operation,” Abubakar said.

Thanks to their “professionalism, gallantry and swift response,” all abducted victims were rescued unharmed.

The rescued women and children were taken to Sabongari Damba for safety and profiling before being reunited with their families.

Zamfara Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Balarabe Maikaba, commended the bravery of the operatives and reaffirmed the command’s dedication to protecting lives and property across the state.

The latest attack adds to a troubling rise in violent abductions across the country. Recent incidents include:

The kidnapping of 25 schoolgirls at Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi State, on November 17.

• The attack on Christ Apostolic Church, Eruku, Kwara State, on November 18, where worshippers were abducted and at least five people killed.
• The abduction of 303 pupils and 12 teachers from St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, Niger State, on November 21.