Bandits kidnap Zamfara finance director, his wife, children and varsity lecturer

Bandits have abducted a director in the Zamfara State Ministry of Finance, Malam Sabiu, his wife, their two children and a varsity lecturer, Dr. Muhammad Bello Janbako. 

A resident of the area, Auwalu Garba, said the bandits broke into Sabiu’s house in Damba Housing Estate Gusau around 1:30 am on Tuesday, January 9, 2024.

According to him, the bandits, who were armed with sophisticated weapons, went straight to Sabiu’s house on arrival in the community as if they were acting on a directive.

“When they arrived in our area, they did not fire any shot and did not enter into any house. They just went straight to Sabiu’s house where they broke the door, entered the bedroom and abducted him and his wife. They later moved to another room and abducted two children then moved away to the forest,” he said. 

Garba said bandits later released Sabiu’s wife on the grounds of ill health. 

Dr. Muhammad Bello Janbako, a director, Centre for Research of the Federal University Gusau in Zamfara State, and also a senior lecturer at the university’s Department of Islamic Studies, was kidnapped in his residence in Damba Gusau on Wednesday, January 10. 

A resident of the area, Nasamu Garba told the punch that the bandits broke into Janbako’s residence around 2 a.m. on Wednesday and took him away.

Garba said security personnel engaged the bandits in a gun duel in a bid to foil the abduction.

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

“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. 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.”