TROOPS of Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have foiled an attempt by terrorists to abduct a large number of people at Unguwar Rogo in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State, rescuing at least nine victims, although three others were reportedly taken away by the attackers.
News Point Nigeria gathered that the attack was allegedly carried out by fighters loyal to a notorious bandit kingpin, Malan Shuaibu, as a reprisal for recent operations by security forces against the group and its alleged collaborators, including the arrest of seven suspected informants and logistics suppliers accused of working for the terrorist leader.
A resident of the community, who spoke to this newspaper on condition of anonymity, said those arrested allegedly included individuals accused of facilitating the transfer of ransom money to the terrorists through Point of Sale, POS, agents.
“The security forces arrested seven people who were informants and those who sent ransom money to them through POS. That is why one of his boys planned the mass abduction,” the resident said.
A security source, who also spoke anonymously, said troops were mobilised to the area following a distress call that terrorists had stormed Unguwar Rogo, blocked roads and begun abducting commuters.
According to the source, Shuaibu and his associates were allegedly angered by the arrest of some of their collaborators while attempting to procure motorcycles and Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, popularly known as petrol, for the terrorists.
The resident further said the attackers took advantage of vegetation on farmland close to the road to conceal themselves and lay an ambush for commuters, adding that farmers had previously been advised by security agencies to avoid cultivating tall crops close to the roads, but some had allegedly ignored the directive, thereby providing cover for the attackers.
According to him, the terrorists attacked commuters and targeted occupants of vehicles that lost control and veered into the surrounding bushes, apparently with the intention of abducting them.
Although the attackers succeeded in taking away three persons, the resident said the swift response of the troops prevented a larger abduction and led to the rescue of at least nine victims.
He added that two female victims sustained gunshot wounds during the attack and were receiving medical treatment.
The troops are said to be continuing operations in the area in an effort to track the fleeing terrorists, dismantle their support network and prevent further attacks on communities and road users.
When contacted, the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 8 Division, Nigerian Army/Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, and the Media Information Officer of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, OPFY, Lt. Col. Aliyu Danja, confirmed that they were still working on a press release on the incident, which would be issued soon.
Efforts to obtain confirmation from the spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police Command, DSP Yazid Abubakar, were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.