Police kill bandit, rescue two abducted victims in Zamfara
August 26, 2026 12:45 am
Ibukunoluwa Adelowore
The Zamfara State Police Command said it had rescued two abducted persons, neutralised an armed bandit and recovered an AK-47 rifle during an operation in the Talata Mafara Local Government Area of the state.
The command disclosed this on Tuesday in a statement by its spokesperson, DSP Yazid Abubakar.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the operation was carried out on Sunday at about 2:30pm by a joint team of police tactical operatives, members of the Community Protection Guard and the Civilian Joint Task Force.
The operatives, while conducting a rescue operation along Tashar Lawali Village in the Kagara District of Talata Mafara LGA, reportedly intercepted a group of armed bandits riding on five motorcycles and moving with abducted persons.
The bandits reportedly opened fire on the joint security team after sighting the operatives.
“The team immediately responded with superior firepower, successfully repelling the attack and forcing the criminals to retreat.”
The command noted that one of the bandits was shot dead during the encounter, while an AK-47 rifle and its magazine were recovered from him.
The command added that two of the abducted victims were, reportedly, rescued while other members of the gang fled into the surrounding area with injuries.
“No casualties were recorded among the joint security forces,” the police added.
The command explained that the operation was ongoing, and the security operatives were intensifying efforts to track the fleeing suspects, rescue more abducted victims and recover additional weapons.
Reacting to the development, the state Commissioner of Police, Ahmad Bello, commended the joint security team for its “courage, resilience, and prompt response.”
Bello also assured residents that the command would sustain intelligence-led and coordinated operations to dismantle criminal networks and restore peace across the state.
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