Bauchi govt rescues 69 people from bandits…Gunmen assassinate Zamfara lawyer 

The Bauchi state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Abdulrazaq Nuhu Zaki, on Friday disclosed that 69 people that were abducted by bandits had been rescued by a combined effort of security agents and vigilantes.

Nuhu Zaki made the disclosure while fielding questions from newsmen on the infiltration of bandits, kidnappers into Toro, Alkaleri, Tafawa Balewa, and Ningi local government areas of the state.

“The governor equally boosted the morals of the council chairmen, vigilantes, traditional rulers, security personnel and all stakeholders. With the backing of the state government, we mobilised ourselves along with the security, vigilantes and stormed the forest, fearlessly and we confronted the bandits and they fled but our men continued to advance towards them.

“The council chairmen reported to us that the total number of people abducted by the kidnappers was 69 and all of them were rescued. Many of them were brought and kept in Bauchi by their abductors, but we were able to secure their release and they have united with their families,” he said.

He expressed optimism that the people of the state would vote for Governor Bala Mohammed in next year’s general elections, adding that the governor “has carved a niche for himself through his exemplary leadership qualities.”

In a related development, gunmen have assassinated a Zamfara state-based lawyer, Barrister Benedict T. Azza, and his body was found lying on the roadside along the bye-pass near the FRSC office, Gusau.

The chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Gusau branch, Barrister Junaidu Abubakar, disclosed this in a statement Friday.

“Yesterday, at about 2230hrs, while I was in my house, I received three different phone calls from our colleagues informing me that B. T. Azza Esq. was shot dead by gunmen and his body was lying on the roadside along a bye-pass near FRSC office, Gusau.

“Immediately after receiving the information, I rushed to the scene where I met our colleagues, Abdullahi Ibrahim Esq. and Ibrahim Sani Gusau Esq. with a large number of security personnel (police and soldiers). I saw BT Azza’s dead body lying in cold blood on the shoulders of the road. I also saw his accident vehicle (Lexus Jeep) by the road side.

“While we were there, FRSC’s personnel came to the scene with a body bag in which the dead body was deposited and taken by the police to Yariman Bakura Specialists Hospital, Gusau where his dead body was deposited in the mortuary”.

“The information has it that the gunmen wanted to kidnap him at his house situated at Saminaka Area, Behind Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Headquarters, Bye-pass, Gusau, but he was able to escape, drove his vehicle and ran to the road side, but the gunmen pursued him and shot him dead,” the statement read in part.

About Mohammed Lawal, Bauchi and Sanusi Muhammad, Gusau

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