Troops rescue six kidnap victims, arrest suspected gun runners in Zamfara

Troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA have rescued six people from suspected kidnappers and arrested three alleged gun runners in separate operations across Zamfara State.

Security analyst Bakatsine disclosed the development in a post shared on X on Tuesday, saying the operations were conducted on Sunday as troops stepped up efforts to tackle armed criminal groups in the state.

In one operation, troops reportedly stopped a vehicle along the Kaura Namoda-Shinkafi Road and arrested three men suspected of transporting firearms.

A search of the vehicle allegedly led to the recovery of an AK-103-2 rifle, a magazine and 30 rounds of ammunition concealed inside a bag of millet.

Bakatsine said the weapons were reportedly being transported to Yar-Galadima in Maru Local Government Area.

In a separate operation, troops responded to an attack on motorists along the Anka-Gummi Road after armed men allegedly attempted to abduct travellers.

“The troops engaged the attackers as they tried to take six victims into the forest,” Bakatsine wrote.

He said the attackers fled following the confrontation, abandoning the six victims, who were subsequently rescued by the troops.

Three of the rescued victims reportedly sustained minor injuries and were taken for medical treatment.