21 Pupils Kidnapped In Zamfara Have Been Rescued By The Police
21 Islamiyya school
children who were abducted by bandits along the Gusau-Tsafe-Funtuwa road on
Friday, December 31 have been rescued by the police.
Mohammed Shehu a
spokesperson to the police in Zamfara state has said that the pupils were
rescued after a gun duel between the security operatives and the bandits.
The pupils were kidnapped when they were
traveling with their teacher from Rini Bukura LGA of Zamfara to Kastina State.
En route was when they encountered the bandits who blocked the highway and abducted
many commuters along the road.
One bus driver,
Lawali Ibrahim the Islamiyya school teacher along with other commuters are
still with the abductors.
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Shehu
said;
“On 31st December 2021, at about 2300hrs, a
distress call was received from Kucheri Village Via Tsafe LGA that armed
bandits in their large number blocked Gusau-Funtua federal highway at Kucheri
axis, and abducted an unspecified number of commuters in five different
vehicles.
“Police tactical operatives in conjunction with
the military promptly responded to the distress call and moved to the scene,
where they engaged the hoodlums in a serious gun battle.
“The police operatives succeeded in rescuing 21
kidnapped children including two females who were coming from Rini village in
Bakura LGA to Katsina state for Almajiri Islamiyya school, along with their
teacher named Lawali Ibrahim.
“The said scholar, Lawali Ibrahim, and the
driver of their Hummer bus are among the victims that are currently in
captivity.”
According to the police
spokesperson, the commissioner of police in the state, Ayuba Elkanah has
already sent a reinforcement of police operatives to compliment the effort of
the joint security operatives currently working to rescue the remaining victims
and apprehend the perpetrators.
Shehu added;
“The Zamfara state police command is calling on the general
public, especially drivers and passengers, to desist from night journey.
“The nighttime is the period
that is mostly used by the bandits to block roads and kidnap commuters in the
state.
“On its part, the police
command will continue to work assiduously to ensure the safety and security of
the citizenry.”
