The Zamfara state Police Command Thursday said it has rescued a kidnapped staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), repelled multiple coordinated bandit attacks, and recovered hundreds of rustled cattle in operations across Gummi, Talata Mafara and Gusau local government areas.
A statement signed by the command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), DSP Yazid Abubakar, said the operations were carried out between July 7 and July 8, 2026, following intelligence and distress calls.
“The first incident occurred on July 7 at about 3:30 p.m. when an estimated 50 armed bandits on motorcycles attacked villages around Ruwan Bore District in Talata Mafara LGA. The assailants rustled a large number of cattle believed to be in the hundreds.
“During the attack, one woman sustained gunshot injuries from a stray bullet. She was evacuated to the General Hospital in Talata Mafara where she is receiving treatment,” the PRO said.
He stated further that the bandits later moved toward Gummi LGA where they abducted Mr. Aliyu Mohammed, an INEC staff member on official assignment with the National Examinations Council.
Mr. Mohammed had reportedly transported examination scripts from secondary schools in Gummi to Sokoto before he was intercepted along the Gummi–Sokoto Road. His official white Toyota Hilux with registration number FG 853-V01 was later found abandoned in the Tafkin area.
“Operatives from the Gummi Division responded to the report, recovered the vehicle and took it to the station for safekeeping. The examination scripts were also recovered and handed over to the principal of Government Unity Secondary School, Gummi, Mr. Ashiru Umar, for onward delivery to Sokoto.”
Following a distress call from military personnel operating in Gando Forest, the command deployed the Violent Crime Response Unit to reinforce the troops.
Intelligence indicated that a large number of bandits had gathered in the forest after calling in reinforcements from Sokoto and Kebbi states, in an apparent attempt to retaliate for losses suffered in previous police operations.
A combined team of police and military personnel engaged the bandits in a fierce gun battle that began at about 2:45 a.m. on July 8. The police said superior firepower forced the criminals to flee with casualties.
During the operation, Mr. Mohammed and another abducted victim were rescued unhurt. Hundreds of rustled cattle were also recovered and returned to their owners. Several bandits escaped into the forest with gunshot injuries.