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File photo: A police officer
The Zamfara State Police Command has denied reports of the kidnap of 26 passengers on the Gusau-Sokoto Road.
Our correspondent gathered that on Wednesday, the bandits, who were in large numbers, blocked the Gusau-Sokoto road in an attempt to kidnap motorists plying the road.
However, unconfirmed sources stated that the bandits successfully kidnapped about 26 passengers before the arrival of the security agents.
While reacting, the spokesperson for the state police command, Yazid Abubakar, confirmed the blockage of the road by the bandits but debunked the claim that some people were kidnapped.
He noted that the police were able to drive away the bandits and cleared the road, adding that, “Normalcy has been restored on the road.”
Abubakar said, “The Zamfara State Police Command wishes to clear the air about news going viral that armed bandits blocked the Gusau – Sokoto highway and abducted 26 travellers at kwaren kirya village under the Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
“However, on 20 February 2024, at about 0900hrs, information was received from Good Samaritan that armed bandits blocked the Gusau – Sokoto highway with the intent to perpetuate their nefarious acts.
“On receiving the information, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Maru Division mobilised his Ani-kidnap team in collaboration with the team of Police Mobile Force deployed for quick intervention by the Command Headquarters, swung into action, and engaged the bandits in a gun duel.”
Abubakar added that “due to the pressure mounted on them by the two teams of police, the bandits took to their heels and entered the bush with possible gun wounds.
“Therefore, the Command wishes to clear the misconception that the bandits abducted 26 passengers from a Toyota 18-seater bus and a Volkswagen golf vehicle is misleading information.
“None of the travellers were abducted as the police operatives have salvaged the situation. Normalcy has been restored and adequate measures have been taken to avoid the re-occurrence of the incident.”
Abubakar, therefore, urged the good people of the state and other Nigerians to disregard the disinformation which according to him was an attempt to disrupt the great operational effect of the police and other sister security agencies in the state.
He also urged the journalists to always contact him to verify their information before going to the press.
He urged well-meaning members of the state to assist the command with the relevant information required to bring an end to banditry and bring about absolute normalcy in the state.
Bandits in the state had killed nine people and abducted 27 others in Makera village of Talata-Mafara LG.
An indigene of the area, Mohammed Garba, told PUNCH Online on the phone that the bandits invaded the village around 9 p.m. on Monday while they were shooting indiscriminately to scare away residents.
Garba stated that the bandits were in the village for several hours where they searched from house to house and abducted 53 people.
He stressed that nine people who tried to escape the abduction were killed on the spot.
