Police rescue 19 female hostages and children in Zamfara

Sunday, November 15, 2026 - The Zamfara State Police Command has rescued 19 women and children who spent 22 days in captivity after being abducted by armed bandits in the state.

The victims were rescued on Saturday, November 14, 2026, during a coordinated security operation at a bandits’ hideout around Kungurmi Village.

The victims were reportedly abducted from Tungar Haki Village, via Wanke, in Gusau Local Government Area, before being taken to the bandits’ camp.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said the rescue operation followed credible intelligence received by the command.

He said a joint security team comprising operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, police personnel attached to Government House, operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, and local hunters was immediately deployed to the area.

According to the statement, the operation resulted in the successful rescue of all 19 victims, who were found unharmed.

“The operation recorded a major success with the safe rescue of all nineteen (19) victims, who were found unharmed,” the statement said.

The police identified the rescued victims as Hadiza Sani, Haliru Yahyah, Jamilu Shehu, Nura Abdul, Mubarak Musa, Laulatu Habibu, Balki Maigari, Abida Shuaibu, Zainabu Adamu, Nana Aisha Abubakar, Hasana Wakala, Bashariya Wakala, Amina Wakala, Maarufa Yakuba, Zainabu Yahuza, Fatima Rufai, Nasira Muntari, Hasana Danyaro and Hayashe Biliyam.

The command said all the rescued victims were indigenes of Tungar Haki Village and had been reunited with their families.

The Commissioner of Police, Ahmad Muhammad Bello, commended the joint security team for what he described as courage, professionalism and effective collaboration.

He also reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling kidnapping and other criminal activities across Zamfara State.

“The Commissioner reassured members of the public of the Command’s unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property, combating kidnapping and other criminal activities, and ensuring the safety and security of residents across the State,” the statement added.

The police commissioner urged residents to continue providing security agencies with timely and credible information to support crime prevention and ongoing security operations.