Police rescue three kidnap victims in Zamfara forest operation

Operatives of the Zamfara State Police Command have rescued three kidnapped victims following a gun battle with suspected bandits along Gurusu–Anka Road in Zamfara State.

The victims were abducted on Friday while travelling from Bukuyum to Talata Mafara after bandits reportedly blocked the road and intercepted commuters.

According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Yazid Abubakar, the incident occurred at about 4:00 p.m. when operatives attached to the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) received a distress call regarding the attack.

The police said the operatives swiftly mobilised to the scene and trailed the kidnappers into a nearby forest, where they engaged the criminals in a fierce exchange of gunfire.

“The operatives responded promptly to the distress call and pursued the bandits into the forest. Through effective tactical deployment, the bandits were overpowered and forced to flee into the bush with suspected gunshot wounds,” the statement said.

The Police noted that bloodstains found at the scene suggested that some of the fleeing suspects sustained injuries during the confrontation.

The operation resulted in the successful rescue of all three abducted victims without injuries. However, one of the victims reportedly lost an Android phone to the attackers during the incident.

The command disclosed that efforts are underway to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects using intelligence gathered from the stolen device and other ongoing investigations.

The Commissioner of Police in the State, A.M. Bello, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state.

He however, assured residents that the police would continue to intensify operations aimed at combating banditry and other violent crimes in the state.