The commissioner of police in Zamfara State, Kolo Yusuf, yesterday assured members of the public, especially families of the women, children and others kidnapped in Wanzamai Village of Tsafe local government area of the state at the weekend, that the command in collaboration with the military and vigilante members were making efforts to rescue the victims.
Residents had earlier said about 80 were kidnapped.
A statement issued by the police command yesterday urged the public to disregard the “outrageous figures” being circulated in some sections of the media on the kidnap.
Information received by the command from the village head of Wanzamai according to the command revealed that about nine women and children left their homes to the bush to fetch firewood. As they moved deep into the forest, they were accosted and abducted to an unknown destination by armed bandits.
On receipt of the report, a joint team of police and other security agencies mobilised to the scene and commenced a search and rescue operation. The commissioner of police further deployed an additional police tactical team to complement the ongoing rescue mission.
The command urged the public to discountenance some sections of the media reporting the abduction of 80 people, tasking the media to verify their information before going public. The command also appealed for continuous partnership from the public to ensure safe rescue of the victims.
Gunmen were reported to have abducted at least 80 people, mostly women and children in the state at the weekend.
Reports gathered by our correspondent revealed that a large number of bandits were fleeing Zamfara towards Kaduna border town of Birnin Gwari and on their way, abducted victims from Wanzamai, Yankara and Kucheri.
Residents of the areas have confirmed the abduction of a large number women and children by the fleeing bandits.
“We were terribly scared by the intimidating sight of a large group of bandits heading towards Birnin Gwari direction,” they said in a phone chat.
Sources close to military formations disclosed successful raids by troops of Operation Hadarin Daji in Rugu forest against bandits that led to the killing of many bandits forced then out of their enclaves.
The gunmen were reported to have demanded N30 million ransom, a family source said yesterday.
The abductors had called some of the victims’ families and demanded that N60m must be paid before the children can be released.
“Negotiations have started in earnest and kidnappers have reduced the ransom to N30 million. They asked the families of the victims to go and raise the money,” the source said.
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