From Maiharaji Altine
The former Provost of the Federal College of Education Technical (FCET) Gusau Zamfara state, Dr. Abubakar Hassan Augie abducted by bandits last Thursday night has been rescued by the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji.
Augie was abducted last Thursday night in his residence in Damba area, an outskirt of Gusau town the state capital.
An eye witness account, Mohammed Rabo informed The PUNCH that, the bandits who were in large number stormed Damba area yesterday (Wednesday) night when it was raining.
According to him, as soon as they arrived at the area, they fired a gunshot to scare away the people of the area and later moved to the residence of the former Provost.
He said, “Immediately the bandits arrived at our area, (Damba) they fired one gunshot and everybody locked up his house for fear of being abducted”.
“They went straight to the residence of former Provost, Dr. Augie which indicated that they were in the area purposely to abduct him”.
Rabo further explained that, the bandits forced the door opened, abducted the former Provost and went back to the forest.
However, on their way to the forest, the bandits were sighted by the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji deployed at Mada area in Gusau local government area of the state.
The troops who were on routine patrol along Shemori – Yandoto road engaged the bandits in a heavy gun battle which lasted for several hours.
A top military personnel who wanted to be anonymous said when the bandits realized that, they could not win the fight, they abandoned their captive ( former Provost) and ran into the forest.
The troops recovered two operational motorcycles abandoned by the fleeing bandits.
