The Zamfara State Police Command has rescued 25 abducted residents—10 women and 15 children—after armed bandits launched a night assault on Kuraje village in the Damba area of Gusau Local Government Area.
Police spokesperson, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said in a statement on Saturday that the victims were rescued following a coordinated response by operatives from the Damba Division, the Department of Operations in Gusau, and the state-backed Community Protection Guards (CPG).
According to him, the incident occurred on Friday, 21 November 2025, at about 9:45 p.m., when heavily armed bandits stormed the community, shooting indiscriminately before abducting the women and children.
“Upon receiving the distress report, joint Police patrol teams and the CPG swiftly mobilised to the scene. The operatives pursued the fleeing bandits and engaged them in a coordinated and strategic operation,” Abubakar stated.
He confirmed that all 25 victims were safely rescued without injuries and have since been reunited with their families after being profiled in Sabongari Damba.
The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Maikaba, praised the gallantry of the officers and reaffirmed the Command’s sustained commitment to protecting lives and property across the state.
The rescue in Zamfara comes amid a worrying resurgence of mass abductions across northern Nigeria, particularly targeting school children and vulnerable rural dwellers. Several high-profile incidents in 2024 and 2025 have drawn national and international concern.
In response to the escalating threat, several states, including Kwara, Plateau, Katsina, Niger and Taraba, have shut down vulnerable schools or directed boarding students to return home. The Federal Government also announced on 21 November 2025 the temporary closure of 41 unity schools in high-risk areas amid rising security concerns and ongoing kidnappings.
