Gunmen Abduct University Lecturer In Zamfara

Bello Janbako, the director of the Federal University Gusau’s Center for Research in Zamfara State, has once more been abducted by bandits.

The state capital of Damba Gusau is home to Janbako, a prominent lecturer at the university’s Department of Islamic Studies, who was abducted on Wednesday.

Local resident Nasamu Garba told The PUNCH that the bandits abducted Janbako on Wednesday at around two in the morning.

According to Garba, in an attempt to stop the kidnapping, security guards engaged the criminals in a gunfight.

He said, “When the bandits arrived at the residence of Bello Janbako, they fired several gunshots in order to frighten the residents of the area.

“They later broke into the house and abducted him but were confronted by the security personnel who arrived the area on a rescue mission.

“There was a serious fight between the bandits and the security personnel.

“Unfortunately, the bandits overpowered the security personnel due to their numbers and ran back to the forest with  Bello Janbako.”

He added, “It is really unfortunate, this area which is part of Gusau town, the state capital is no more safe.

“The bandits have been attacking us and have abducted many people from this area despite its closeness to the Government House Gusau.

“If the people of Damba area are not safe, one can say that the whole state is now controlled by bandits.”

According to PUNCH , Malam Sabiu, a local resident and Director of Finance in the state Ministry of Finance, was kidnapped two days ago.

Similar to this, last year saw the kidnapping of Surajo Hassan, a fellow financial director, and his wife and two children, who also lived in the neighborhood.

Due to the constant presence of bandits who kidnap individuals for ransom, residents of the area are currently escaping to safer locations.

ASP Yazid Abubakar, the state police command’s spokesperson, was not available for comment, and Captain Bala Mairiga (retd.), the state commissioner for security, did not answer his calls.