TheNewsGuru

Tag: Zamfara

  • Abductors of Zamfara College students demand N350m

    Abductors of Zamfara College students demand N350m

    The abductors of the students and staff of the College of Agriculture and Animal Science, Bakura in Zamfara State are demanding N350 million for their release.

    The provost of the college Habibu Mainasara confirmed the development on Tuesday.

    He said a total of 20 people were abducted, including 15 students, 4 staff, and a driver.

    The gunmen had stormed the institution around 11 pm on Sunday and kidnapped the students and staff of the college.

    During the attack, the gunmen killed two watchmen and a police officer.

    Meanwhile, the Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, had promised to secure the release of the victims of the latest abduction by bandits in the state.

    In a statement by his spokesman, Yusuf Gusau, on Monday, he condemned the attack on the College of Agriculture and Animal Science, Bakura.

    “Governor Matawalle who is seriously saddened with the resurgence of school abduction in the state by recalcitrant bandits is, however, thankful to God for the prompt response of the security agencies to the school to reinforce the already stationed security at the school which also led to the successful rescue of three out of the four abducted staff of the institution,” the statement said.

    “The governor directed the security operatives in the state to intensify efforts and rescue all the abductees, promising to do everything humanly possible to rescue them unhurt.”

    According to Governor Matawalle, the state government has continued to strengthen efforts of providing security to all schools across the state since the abduction of the schoolgirls in Jangebe.

    He commended the immediate action of the security agencies to launch search and rescue strategies to ensure the safe return of the abducted students and staff still in captivity.

    The governor also made an appeal to residents of the state to remain calm, saying the government was taking all the necessary steps to restore normalcy in the area.

    He, however, urged inhabitants to cooperate with the security agencies deployed in the area by providing them with useful information that could lead to the rescue of the victims.

    Governor Matawalle called on the people to intensify prayers for an end to all criminal activities in the state and the nation at large.

  • BREAKING: Bandits invade Zamfara college, kill security officers, kidnap scores of students

    BREAKING: Bandits invade Zamfara college, kill security officers, kidnap scores of students

    Gunmen suspected to be bandits have invaded the popular college of Agriculture, Bakura, in Zamfara State and abducted unspecified number of students.

    TheNewsGuru gathered that the incident occurred on Sunday night when the assailants invaded the school premises shooting sporadically, before whisking the victims away.

    It was also learnt that the attackers engaged in gun duel with some security personnel serving in the area, leading to the death of officers.

    Details of the incident are still vague as at press time.

    When contacted, the State’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Muhammed Shehu confirmed the sad incident.

    He was, however, unable to give details of the attack stating that the command would “issue statement later”.

    In the same vein, Senator Shehu Sani who represented the Kaduna Central during the 8th National Assembly also confirmed the incident via a tweet in his verified Twitter handle on Monday morning.

    The tweet reads, “We woke up with a tragic news of mass abductions of students and staff at the college of Agriculture Bakura, Zamfara State yesternight.

    The bandits also killed some security personnel. Another tragedy. Budget upon Budget for defence, where are our security apparatuses?”

  • Another ex-councilor attacked, killed by bandits in Zamfara

    Another ex-councilor attacked, killed by bandits in Zamfara

    A former councilor of Sabon Gida Ward, Hon. Farouq Hassan, has been killed by unidentified gunmen suspected to be bandits few minutes after he arrived at his home on Wednesday night.

    According to reports the bandits stormed Hassan’s house with dangerous weapons loaded in two vehicles, which they had used to trail the 38-year-old politician.

    Sources close to the family disclosed that the gunmen asked Hassan to turn his back before he was shot twice in the head.

    None of his family members or neighbours were abducted in the attack.

    The incident happened less than 24 hours after gunmen invaded the house of another former councilor, Babangida Damba, who was shot while his nursing wife and eight-month-old baby boy were kidnapped.

    As at the time this report was filed, Zamfara State Police Command was yet to confirm the incident and attempts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer(PPRO), SP Mohammed Shehu, proved abortive.

  • Just in: Bandits kidnap Zamfara speaker’s father, six others

    Just in: Bandits kidnap Zamfara speaker’s father, six others

    Suspected bandits have abducted the biological father of the Speaker of Zamfara state House of Assembly, Alhaji Nasiru Muazu Magarya.

    The armed men also kidnapped the Speaker’s stepmother, uncle and four others in a raid on his community, Magarya in Zurmi Local Government Area of the state.

    The speaker is representing Zurmi east in the assembly.

    Salihu Zurmi, lawmaker representing Zurmi West in the state assembly, told newsmen that the armed men invaded the community on Wednesday evening.

    “This is the fourth time they are attacking the community, the first one they killed some people while during the second assault they torched residential houses and carted away cows and other domestic animals,” he said.

    The Director General, Press Affairs of the state House of Assembly Mustapha Jafaru Kaura, said a press statement will soon be issued on the issue.

  • Matawalle suspends Joint Task Force in Zamfara

    Matawalle suspends Joint Task Force in Zamfara

    The Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle has approved the immediate suspension of all the activities of the Joint Task Force on Zamfara State Road Traffic Agency (ZAROTA) headed by Col. Rabiu Garba Yandoto (rtd).

    According to a statement signed by a State Government spokesperson, Yusuf Gusau, the action followed the protest of the Tricycle Riders Association in the state last week while the governor was away in Abuja for an official engagement

    Yusuf said the governor has also directed for a full scale investigation into the circumstances that led to the protest with a view to advising the government on how best to restructure the agency for the overall interest of the people of the state.

    “The governor has also approved the suspension of all the activities of the agency pending the outcome of the investigation,” the statement said.

    “The joint task force is hereby directed to hand over all government properties in its possession to the office of the Secretary to the State Government with immediate effect.”

  • Bandits storm General Hospital in Zamfara, capture health worker, one other

    Bandits storm General Hospital in Zamfara, capture health worker, one other

    Armed men suspected to be bandits terrorizing some parts of Zamfara State have invaded a General Hospital in Dansadau community in the Maru local government area of the State.

    TheNewsGuru gathered that the incident occurred on Friday when the assailants invaded the facility and kidnapped two health workers.

    The chairman of Nigerian Medical Association, Zamfara State chapter, Dr. Mannir Bature confirmed the incident to Channels Television.

    According to him, the bandits stormed the hospital with the intention of kidnapping medical doctors and nurses attached to the hospital but after a search, they only ended up in kidnapping a ward attendant and a patient’s relation.

    He further revealed that two other female staff of the hospital were wounded in the raid.

    Following the incident, Dr. Bature noted that the NMA Zamfara branch will hold an emergency state officers council meeting on Saturday 31st July 2021 at NMA Secretariat to deliberate on the issue.

    The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Mohammed Shehu was unable to take his calls and could not respond to text messages forwarded to him.

     

  • Bandits attack Zamfara General Hospital, kidnap two

    Bandits attack Zamfara General Hospital, kidnap two

    Armed bandits have attacked a General Hospital within the Dansadau community in the Maru local government area of Zamfara State.

    The attack which took place in the early hours of Friday led to the abduction of a health worker and one other individual.

    Confirming the attack, the chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, Zamfara State branch Dr. Mannir Bature said the gunmen stormed the hospital and started looking for medical doctors and nurses and in the process abducted a ward attendant and a patient’s relation.

    He further stated that two other female staff of the hospital were wounded in the raid.

    Worried about the unfortunate incident, Dr. Bature noted that the NMA Zamfara branch will hold an emergency state officers council meeting on Saturday 31st July 2021 at NMA Secretariat to deliberate on the issue.

    Dansadau community has been in the news recently for several attacks by bandits, leading to the kidnapping of residents.

    The community has been reaching out to the Federal and State Governments, pleading that more security personnel be deployed to the troubled area.

  • Zamfara Police gives update on alleged abduction of 60 travellers

    Zamfara Police gives update on alleged abduction of 60 travellers

    The Zamfara State Police Command on Wednesday gave an update while denouncing reports of purported abduction of 60 travellers by armed bandits on Sokoto-Gusau road.

    A statement issued by the command’s spokesman, SP Muhammad Shehu, however, confirmed that 11 travellers were abducted and not 60 as being reported.

    Shehu said the attention of the Zamfara State Police Command had been drawn to a story trending on social and some conventional media that armed bandits blocked Sokoto – Gusau road and abducted 60 people travelling from Sokoto to Abuja.

    “The command wishes to debunk the story and viewed it as inaccurate and a calculated attempt by some mischief makers to create fear and apprehension into the minds of the general public, especially commuters.

    “For the avoidance of doubt and for purposes of clarity, the command is hereby giving the accurate report of the incident”, the PPRO said.

    “On Sunday 25th July, 2021, a large number of armed bandits blocked a Toyota bus belonging to the Sokoto State Mass Transit and abducted 11 passengers, who were travelling from Sokoto to Abuja along the Sokoto-Gusau road in Bakura LGA,” Shehu said.

    He added that the Police Tactical operatives attached to ‘Operation Restore Peace’ were alerted and that they quickly mobilized to the location and dislodged the hoodlums, who had blocked many vehicles for the purpose of abduction.

    Shehu said the road was instantly cleared for motorists and other road users and that more police operatives were reinforced to improve the security and safety of commuters.

    “In the course of mopping up the scene, a Toyota bus belonging to the Sokoto State Mass Transit was sighted empty and it was revealed that 11 passengers, including the driver, were abducted and taken into the bush before the arrival of the police.

    “The operatives embarked on search and rescue operation in the surrounding bushes with a view to rescuing the kidnapped victims.

    “Two persons, who were left far behind with other hoodlums, were abandoned by their captors for fear of being neutralized by the Police operatives, the remaining nine victims were, however, taken into the forest.

    “The command is currently employing various search and rescue strategies aimed at rescuing the victims safely. In view of this, the command enjoins members of the public to discountenance the purported abduction of 60 persons,” Shehu added.

  • Police rescue 100 kidnapped victims in Zamfara

    Police rescue 100 kidnapped victims in Zamfara

    The police command in Zamfara has successfully rescued 100 kidnapped victims from bandits at Kabaro forest in Maru Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

    This is contained in a statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Muhammad Shehu in Gusau on Tuesday.

    Shehu said that the rescue was done in collaboration with the state Ministry for Security and Home Affairs.

    “Some recalcitrant bandits stormed Manawa village in Mutunji District of Dansadau Emirate in Maru LGA on June 8, and abducted 100 villagers including nursing mothers, males and children.

    “The victims who were in custody of their abductors for 42 days, were released without ransom and will be medically checked and debriefed before being reunited with their respective families.

    “The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Hussaini Rabiu, has warned the recalcitrant bandits to renounce criminalities and embrace peace or face the full wrath of the law.

    “He has assured of sustenance of kinetic and non kinetic approach to successfully end the menace of kidnapping in the state,” he said.

    Shehu added: “The command uses this medium to call on the good people of the state to support the police and other security agencies with credible information about the hideout, movements and other activities of criminal elements,” he said.

  • Bandits kill 13 police officers, injure seven in Zamfara

    Bandits kill 13 police officers, injure seven in Zamfara

    Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara, on Sunday in Gusau, expressed shock at the killing of 13 police officers by suspected bandits.

    The police personnel were gunned down at a mobile camp in Kurar Mota community in the Bagudu Local Government Area of the state.

    The governor’s reaction is contained in a statement by Malam Yusuf Idris, Director-General, Media, Public Enlightenment and Communications, Government House, Gusau.

    The statement said Matawalle expressed “devastation“ when he visited seven injured police officers who were receiving treatment at the Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital, Gusau.

    “It was on receipt of the news of the unfortunate incident that the governor immediately rushed to the hospital to sympathise with those currently receiving treatment at the facility.

    “While lamenting the attack, Matawalle promised to partner with other security agencies in the state to track down the attackers and all their sponsors and collaborators with a view to bringing them to justice.

    “The police officers were ambushed at a mobile police camp set up as part of the measures taken by the government to fight bandits in the state.

    “Matawalle, who was highly devastated by the sad incident, said the troops are doing very well at the war front and had decimated the number of insurgents in the area,” the statement said.

    It said the governor would make the attack his major priority until the perpetrators are apprehended or a good level of success made towards their arrest.

    Meanwhile, the Zamfara Police Command had confirmed the killing of the 13 officers with seven others injured by the attackers.

    SP Mohammed Shehu, the command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), gave the confirmation in a separate statement issued on Sunday.

    “The attack occurred on Sunday at about 1230hrs, when Police Mobile operatives deployed at Kurar Mota Village were responding to a distress call with regards to an attempt by the bandits to attack some nearby communities.

    “The police personnel, who ran into the ambush, exhibited resilience and gallantry by engaging the hoodlums, an effort that deterred the bandits from attacking the communities.

    “Unfortunately, 13 personnel paid the supreme price. However, the bandits on their part suffered heavy casualties,” Shehu said.

    According to the PPRO, the command had launched a manhunt aimed at apprehending the bandits.

    “The Zamfara State Police Command has reaffirmed its commitment and determination to sustain its ongoing operation against the activities of recalcitrant bandits and other criminal elements in the state.

    “A Special Anti-Banditry Operation is currently ongoing with a view to tracking down the assailants.

    “The Commissioner of Police, Hussaini Rabiu, while visiting the injured policemen at the hospital reaffirmed that the unfortunate incident will not discourage the officers and men of the command from discharging their mandate of protecting lives and property of citizens.

    “The Police Commissioner called on every law abiding citizen to join hands with security agencies to successfully end the menace,” the statement said.