From Maiharaji Altine, Gusau
Zamfara state police command has rescued 187 kidnapped victims who have been eating grasses in bandits’ den for 52 days due to lack of food.
The rescued victims who were kidnapped in different parts of the state were left with no food by the bandits, as such, they resorted to eating grasses in order to survive.
One of the victims who gave her name as Iklima Murtala told The Analyzer news that, 17 people have died as a result of starvation.
“When they took us to their place, they gave us food for only few days and later stopped supplying the food, as such, we were left with no option but to begin eating some eatable grasses in order to survive”.
Seventeen of us have died and even when we were brought to Gusau two people also died”.
Receiving the kidnapped victims on behalf of the state government, the Secretary to the state government, Alhaji Kabiru Balarabe said, “the state government would continue to put pressure on the bandits until they finally give up”.
“We are assuring the people of the state that, necessary measures were put in place to ensure the return of peace in the state”.
He appealed to the people of the state to continue to cooperate with the state government in its current fight against banditry, concluding that, “Things will become normal by the grace of God”.
In his response, the state police Commissioner, CP Ayuba N. Elkana stressed that, due to persistent pressure by the security agents and lack of food, the bandits were now finding it very hard to operate.
“They are finding it extremely difficult now to carry out their activities because we have blocked all the ways where they are getting food and drugs”.
“Some of them are now begging us for reconciliation and we are telling them that, it’s too late”.