Police in Zamfara have rescued 100 kidnap victims from bandits in the Dansadau area of Maru Local Government Area of the state.
The captives rescued on Monday were said to have spent more than 40 days in the bandits’ den before their release.
It was learnt that repentant bandits facilitated the release of the captives through a mediation brokered by the state government.
State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Mohammed Shehu, in an interview with the BBC said that the victims were abducted at Manawa village on June 8, and held in Kabaru forest for over 40 days.
Shehu said, “The rescue is one of the efforts the state command is making to protect the lives and properties of citizens.
“Since the abduction, the police force geared up in collaboration with sister security agencies and stakeholders as well who assist police to maintain peace in the state.
“The rescue operation took that long out of the sheer number of the captives; it’s necessary for us to carefully apply tactics in order not to jeopardize the whole operation. And thank God that it went smoothly.”
The PPRO added that out of 100 persons rescued, only 80 have handed over to the security agencies.
“The remaining 20 couldn’t make it to Gusau as they’re sick. Therefore, we handed them over to their families who’ll take care of them,” he said.