The Nigeria Police Force, Zamfara State command has refuted the report of kidnapping 16 passengers at Kwaren Kurya village along Gusau-Sokoto on Tuesday.
In a press statement signed and made available to Radio Nigeria in Gusau by the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, ASP Yazid Abubakar said the police have repelled the attack and no passenger was kidnapped as they thwarted the attack.
“The Zamfara State Police Command wishes to clear the air about news going viral that armed bandits blocked Gusau – Sokoto highway and abducted 26 travelers at kwaren kirya village under the Maru local government area of Zamfara State.
The PPRO said : “On the 20th February 2024, at about 0900hrs the police received information from Good Samaritan that armed bandits blocked Gusau – Sokoto highway with the intent to perpetuate their nefarious acts which the Divisional police officer (DPO) of Maru Division led personnel and repelled the attack.
“The Divisional Police Officer ((DPO) mobilized his Anty-kidnap team in collaboration with the team of Police Mobile Force deployed for quick intervention by the Command Headquarters, swung into action, and engaged the bandits in a gun duel, due to the pressure mounted to them by the two teams of police, the bandits took to their heels and retreated into the bush with possible gunshot wounds”.
According to him, the misconception that the bandits abducted 26 passengers from a Toyota 18 seaters bus and a Volkswagen golf vehicle is misleading information known of the travelers were abducted the police operatives have salvaged the situation normalcy has been restored adequate measures have been taken to avoid the recurrence of the incident as joint surveillance patrol of the area intensified.
“The Command urged the good people of Zamfara state and Nigeria in general to disregard the disinformation which they described as an attempt to disrupt the great operational effort of the police and other sister security agencies in the State and therefore urged the journalists to always contact the Command Police Public Relations Officer to verified information before going to press”, he added.
