Zamfara Police Rescue INEC Official and Recover Cattle After Bandit Attacks

Police and military forces in Nigeria's Zamfara State repelled coordinated bandit raids across Gummi, Talata Mafara and Gusau Local Government Areas. About 50 armed motorcyclists stormed villages in the Ruwan Bore district on July 7, stealing hundreds of cattle and injuring a woman. The attackers then abducted Aliyu Mohammed, an INEC staff member, whose vehicle and examination scripts were later recovered.

A joint operation by the Zamfara State Police Violent Crime Response Unit, the Police Mobile Force and army troops engaged the bandits on July 8, forcing them to flee with casualties. The kidnapped INEC official and another victim were rescued unharmed, and hundreds of rustled cattle were returned to owners. A second engagement later that morning freed motorists and farmers abducted in Gusau LGA. Police Commissioner A. M. Bello pledged continued offensive actions against banditry.