The abducted provost of College of Agriculture and Animal Science Bakura, Mr Habibu Mainasara, has regained his freedom.
Mr Mainasara’s elder brother, Nasiru Mainasara, told newsmen that he was freed on Wednesday night, three days after bandits abducted him from his official residence in the institution.
Details about his release remain sketchy and his brother did not disclose whether a ransom was paid.
On Monday, a day after he was taken, the bandits demanded a ransom of N5 million from his family with negotiations commencing for his release.
His brother, however, said prominent members of the community told the family to stop the negotiation and assured them that he will be rescued safely.
Following his abduction, the Police Command in the state deployed a search and rescue team in the area to hunt down the bandits and ensure his safe return.
Spokesperson of the Command Mohammed Shehu, however, said on Monday that the command was not aware of any negotiation between the family and the abductors.
Zamfara is among states in the North battling to halt the activities of rampaging bandits that have engaged in killings abductions and other crimes.
Only last week, bandits killed 35 persons during an attack on five communities of Faru District in Maradun Local Government Area of the state.
The communities – Gudan-Baushi, Gidan-Adamu,Gudan-Maidawa, Tsauni, and Wari – were attacked by motorcycle-riding bandits in the late hours of Thursday, July 8.
They stormed the village with their guns blazing, murdering many of the villagers as they tried to flee to safety before going on to destroy properties.
The state of the roads leading to the village contributed to the casualty suffered as the police could not reach it easily, according to the Zamfara Command’s spokesperson.
“The police personnel tried their best to reach the affected communities on receiving the information that the bandits were there but unfortunately they could not reach the places because of the bad roads,” Mohammed Shehu said.
While the attack on the communities is one of the most deadly in recent weeks in terms of killings, the abduction of 317 females students from a government school in February is one of the most brazen cases of abductions in the country.
