Police, military rescue kidnapped INEC staff, recover cattle

Police in Zamfara State, in collaboration with military personnel, have rescued a kidnapped electoral official, repelled multiple bandit attacks, and recovered hundreds of stolen cattle during coordinated security operations across three local government areas. The operations, which took place on July 7 and July 8, resulted in the successful rescue of an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) staff member and other abducted victims without injury, according to a police statement.

The series of incidents began on the afternoon of July 7, when an estimated 50 armed bandits on motorcycles attacked villages in the Ruwan Bore District of Talata Mafara Local Government Area. The assailants rustled a large number of cattle, believed to be in the hundreds. During this initial attack, a woman was struck by a stray bullet and sustained injuries. She was evacuated to the General Hospital in Talata Mafara, where she is receiving treatment.

The bandits subsequently moved toward Gummi Local Government Area, where they abducted Mr. Aliyu Mohammed, an INEC staff member who was on an official assignment with the National Examinations Council (NECO). Mohammed had reportedly transported...