The Katsina State Police Command has repelled separate bandit attacks in Kankia and Musawa Local Government Areas of the state, rescuing three kidnapped victims, recovering 12 rustled cows and reportedly neutralising a suspected bandit.
This was contained in a statement issued by the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq, and made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Katsina.
According to the statement, the first incident occurred at about 9:30pm on Tuesday when suspected armed bandits attacked Fakuwa village in Kankia LGA, kidnapping three persons and rustling about 12 cows.
It said, “Upon receipt of the report, the DPO Kankia swiftly mobilised and led a combined team of police operatives and local vigilantes to the scene.
“The team traced and intercepted the bandits, engaging them in a prolonged gun duel, thereby forcing the hoodlums to abandon their criminal mission and flee into the forest with suspected gunshot wounds.
“Consequently, all the kidnapped victims were successfully rescued unharmed, and all the rustled cows were recovered. The victims have been reunited with their families.”
In a separate incident, the police said suspected bandits barricaded the Kiryoyi-Dangani Road in Musawa LGA at about 1:30am on Wednesday.
The statement said the DPO Musawa led a team of the Vigilance and Community Response Unit to the scene following a distress call.
“On arrival, a gun duel ensued, forcing the bandits to flee the area,” Sadiq said.
He added that a subsequent cordon and search operation led to the recovery of the body of a suspected bandit, with a machete found beside him.
The command said efforts were ongoing to track and arrest the fleeing suspects.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Ali Umar Fage, commended the operatives for their “gallantry and professionalism.”
Fage urged members of the public to continue supporting the police with timely and credible information to help combat criminal activities across the state.
The command also advised residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements and activities to security agencies.