The Zamfara State Police Command has rescued an official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and several other victims after repelling coordinated bandit attacks across Gummi, Talata Mafara and Gusau Local Government Areas.
According to the police, heavily armed bandits launched attacks on communities in Talata Mafara, rustling hundreds of cattle and injuring a woman who was struck by a stray bullet. She was taken to a hospital, where she is receiving treatment.
During the attacks, an INEC staff member, Aliyu Mohammed, who was returning from an official assignment involving the transportation of examination materials, was abducted along the Gummi–Sokoto Road.
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His official vehicle was later found abandoned, while the recovered examination scripts were handed over to the appropriate authorities for delivery.
Security operatives, acting on intelligence that armed groups had gathered in a nearby forest, launched a coordinated operation involving the police and other security personnel. A gun battle ensued, forcing the attackers to flee.
The operation led to the safe rescue of the kidnapped INEC official and another victim. Security personnel also recovered hundreds of rustled cattle, which were returned to their owners. Several of the fleeing bandits were believed to have sustained gunshot wounds during the confrontation.
In a separate operation in Gusau Local Government Area, police responded to reports of the abduction of motorists and farmers. Officers engaged the kidnappers in another exchange of gunfire, compelling them to abandon their captives and escape into the surrounding forest.
All the victims were rescued unharmed.
The Zamfara State Commissioner of Police reaffirmed the command’s commitment to intensifying operations against criminal groups and urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information to support ongoing security efforts.
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