No fewer than 55 kidnap victims in Zamfara State have been rescued within the past two weeks by the security operatives in the state, the state’s commissioner of police, Usman Nagogo, has disclosed.
Addressing newsmen at the state police command headquarters in Gusau, Mr Nagogo, however, said that the rescue was done through negotiations with the bandits.
He explained that 23 of the victims were rescued between Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st of this month.
According to him, the rescued victims are being treated at the Government House medical facilities, adding that they would soon be reunited with their families.
“This shows us that the ongoing dialogue and reconciliation in the state is working very perfectly.
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“It Will be naive for us to say that attacks have stopped by 100 per cent in the state, but judging from the fact that banditry in the state has been going on for over ten years, in a space of three weeks the attacks were reduced to the bearest minimum.
“We are not living in the world of mirage to assume that we can stop the issue of banditry and militia activities within the space of little time,” he said.
Speaking further, Mr Nagogo stressed that the situation shifted from cattle rustling to burning of villains, food items, maiming, and killing of old men, women and children which he said also led to deprivation of farmers cultivating their farmlands in the area.
“However, both militia groups and the armed bandits including their Ardos were brought together under common umbrella and their we’re exchange of greetings and pleasantries,” he pointed out.
