Mass Kidnapping Attempt in Zamfara: Two Shot Dead as Army Foils Attack
The Nigerian Army has foiled an alleged attempt to carry out a mass kidnapping in Zamfara State, rescuing nine people, including a baby, while two women sustained gunshot injuries during the incident.
The Army said the operation followed an emergency distress call reporting that suspected terrorists had entered a community in the area and attacked civilians travelling along a road.
In a statement issued on Monday, the spokesperson for the operation, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, said soldiers immediately responded to the distress call and moved to the area where the suspected attackers were operating.
According to Danja, preliminary investigations indicated that the attack may have been carried out as retaliation for the recent arrest of individuals suspected of collaborating with the terrorist group.
He explained that the soldiers had earlier intercepted the suspected collaborators after they were allegedly found attempting to purchase motorcycles and petrol for members of the armed group.
The Army, however, did not disclose the number of suspected collaborators arrested, when the arrests took place or the exact location where they were apprehended.
Attackers Hid in Cassava Farm
Danja said the suspected attackers were believed to be operating under the command of a terrorist leader identified as Mallam Shuaibu.
According to him, the attackers hid inside a cassava farm close to the road before opening fire on vehicles travelling through the area.
The gunfire reportedly caused some motorists to lose control of their vehicles, with some vehicles subsequently leaving the roadway.
The Army spokesperson said the soldiers responded quickly after receiving the emergency call and engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle.
He said:
“When the soldiers of Sector 2 received the distress call, they immediately moved to the area and engaged the terrorists in a fierce gun battle, preventing them from carrying out the kidnapping of the people.”
The intervention, according to the Army, prevented the suspected attackers from successfully carrying out the mass kidnapping.
Nine People Rescued
The Army said nine civilians were rescued, including a baby. Two women were also injured by gunfire during the incident.
However, the Army's statement did not provide further details about the condition of the two injured women or whether they had received medical treatment.
It also did not make clear whether the nine civilians had already been taken into the custody of the attackers before the soldiers arrived, or whether the soldiers rescued them at the scene before the suspected kidnappers could take them away.
Similarly, the statement did not disclose whether any of the suspected terrorists were killed or injured during the confrontation with the soldiers.
The Army also did not state whether any soldiers sustained injuries in the gun battle.
IROYIN YORUBA contacted Lieutenant Colonel Danja to seek further clarification on these issues, including the circumstances surrounding the rescue of the nine civilians and the reported deaths.
Army Continues Operation in North-West
The incident comes as the Nigerian military continues operations against armed groups operating across parts of the North-West region of Nigeria.
The Army said Operation Fansan Yamma would continue its efforts to tackle terrorist and other armed groups operating across the region.
The operation is aimed at disrupting the activities of armed groups, protecting civilians and improving security in communities affected by attacks, kidnapping and other forms of violence.
The Zamfara incident again highlights the security challenges confronting communities in the North-West, where armed groups have continued to pose a threat to residents and travellers.
The Army's latest intervention, according to its statement, prevented the reported attack from developing into a mass kidnapping and enabled nine civilians, including a baby, to be rescued.