Kidnapped INEC staff rescued in Zamfara

A joint security operation involving the Zamfara State Police Command and military personnel has rescued a kidnapped a staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Aliyu Mohammed.

In a post on X, security expert Zagazola Makama said the security operatives thwarted coordinated bandit attacks, and recovered hundreds of rustled cattle following separate operations in Gummi, Talata Mafara and Gusau LGAs of Zamfara State.

Zagazola stated that the operations followed a series of coordinated attacks launched by heavily armed bandits across the affected communities.

According to him, at about 3:30 p.m. on July 7, a large group of armed bandits riding on about 50 motorcycles stormed villages in the Ruwan Bore District of Talata Mafara Local Government Area, rustling hundreds of cattle during the attack.

The security expert noted that a woman sustained a gunshot injury from a stray bullet and was evacuated to the General Hospital in Talata Mafara, where she is receiving treatment.

The kidnapped INEC staff was said to be on official assignment with the National Examinations Council, NECO.

He reportedly had transported examination scripts collected from secondary schools in Gummi to Sokoto before he was intercepted and kidnapped along the Gummi–Sokoto Road.

Police operatives from Gummi Division responded promptly, recovered the abandoned vehicle and secured the examination scripts, which were subsequently handed over to the Principal of Government Unity Secondary School, Gummi, Mr Ashiru Umar, for onward transmission to the appropriate NECO office in Sokoto.

“The combined security team engaged the bandits in a fierce gun battle that began at about 2:45 a.m. on July 8.

“The superior firepower of the joint force overwhelmed the bandits, forcing them to flee into the forest with significant casualties, while several escaped with gunshot wounds.

“During the operation, the kidnapped INEC official and another abducted victim were rescued unhurt. Security operatives also recovered hundreds of rustled cattle, which were subsequently returned to their rightful owners,” Zagazola said.