100 captives abducted by bandits in the Dansadau area of Maru Local government council of Zamfara State have been rescued. 

The captives who spent more than 40 days in bandits’ den, were released after repentant bandits mediated on their behalf following a peace meeting brokered by the state government. 

Police spokesperson in the state, SP Mohammed Shehu told the BBC that the bandits abducted the victims at Manawa village on June 8, and kept them at Kabaru forest for over 40 days.

Shehu said; 

“The rescue is one of the efforts the state command is making to protect the lives and properties of citizens.

“Since the abduction, the police force geared up in collaboration with sister security agencies and stakeholders as well who assist police to maintain peace in the state.

“The rescue operation took that long out of the sheer number of the captives; it’s necessary for us to carefully apply tactics in order not to jeopardize the whole operation. And thank God that it went smoothly.”

Out of the 100 people rescued, 80 are with security agents while the remaining who couldn’t make it to Gusau, the state capital as they were sick, were handed over to their families who’ll take care of them