By Abdullahi M. Gulloma
Abuja
Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara state has said that the 40 people abducted by bandits in the state two weeks ago have been rescued and reunited with their families.
Speaking to State House correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, Yari said the bandits operate freely because the state is surrounded by forests.
The governor, who commended the President for sending security operatives to arrest the situation, appealed for the personnel to stay longer in the state in order to bring the situation under control.
He said: “As you are aware, some villages in Zamfara state have been under attacks by bandits and the President has carried out his constitutional responsibility by sending security men to the state.
“So, I am here to brief him on the security situation in the state. The operation is ongoing and is going on successfully. I am rushing back there to visit the troops in order to boast their morale.
“I will be with them throughout the week. In this kind of situation, you have to be with the people in order to show them that you are concerned as a leader. I believe the security agencies are doing their best and we will continue as government to give them the support needed to make the operation successful.
“We are hoping that the military will remain there for longer time and we are ready to take care of their logistics. The problem we have is that the state is surrounded by forests. The military men there are currently in about six camps. We hope they will stay there for a while.
“We thank God that the 40 people are back with their families. We have retrieved them from their abductors and we have returned them to their families without any injury. We also did not pay any ransom.”
