Police in Zamfara have rescued one Abdullahi Naibi of Yardadi village in Bakura Local Government Area of the state from his abductors.

They also recovered an AK-47 rifle with an empty magazine.

Commissioner of Police in the state, Muhammed Bunu, told a news conference in Gusau on Tuesday that Mr Naibi had been taken to the General Hospital at Talata Mafara, also in the state.

He said that on May 3, a team of police operatives on surveillance patrol along Gusau-Tsafe Road intercepted bandits on three motorcycles, each carrying three persons.

He said the bandits engaged the police in a gun duel which lasted for an hour.

Mr Bunu added that police neutralised two bandits and recovered one AK-47 rifle and one pump action gun, while other bandits escaped with gunshot wounds.

“I have come to understand the prevalent security challenges in Zamfara, which include banditry, reprisal attacks, kidnapping and political intolerance.

“I will review existing crime-fighting strategies and garnish them with community policing,’’ he said.

The police commissioner appealed for all stakeholders’ continuous support, cooperation and collaboration to rid the state of criminal elements.

(NAN)