Troops rescue 41 travellers after vehicle breaks down in Zamfara

Troops of Sector 2, Operation Fansan Yamma, rescued 41 travellers after bandits attempted to abduct them in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, the military operation said on Tuesday. The passengers were travelling in a commercial vehicle from Senegal to Kano State when the vehicle developed a mechanical fault along a highway, leaving them stranded, according to a statement issued by the operation. The group comprised 24 men, 10 women and seven children.

The statement said the bandits took advantage of the breakdown and tried to move the passengers into the surrounding area. Troops were mobilised after receiving what the operation described as actionable intelligence. They engaged the armed group, whose members abandoned the passengers and fled into nearby farmlands.

“All 41 victims were successfully rescued unharmed,” the statement said. It added that the travellers were receiving necessary support and would be reunited with their families and transit authorities. The operation said troops had maintained an active presence in the area to protect travellers and pursue the fleeing suspects.

The source did not provide details of any arrests or identify the armed group. The rescue follows other military activity in Zamfara aimed at preventing abductions and protecting people using major highways. The account provided by Operation Fansan Yamma did not state whether the vehicle had resumed its journey or identify the nature of the mechanical fault.