By Ogalah Ibrahim

The Katsina State Police Command thwarted two separate kidnapping attempts, rescuing 13 victims and 16 rustled cows in Katsina communities. 

ASP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, disclosed in a press release that the first incident occurred on May 8th, 2024, around 11:50 p.m. at Unguwar Boka village, Faskari LGA, along Funtua-Gusau Road. 

The hoodlums barricaded the road and targeted three passengers travelling in a Golf III motor vehicle, firing gunshots in an attempt to force them to stop.

However, ASP Sadiq said, “Our rapid response patrol team, patrolling the area led by DPO Faskari, quickly responded to the scene, engaged the bandits in a fierce gun duel, and successfully rescued the three victims unhurt. This development forced the bandits to flee the scene with suspected gunshot wounds.”

ASP Sadiq said investigation is currently ongoing to identify and arrest the fleeing suspects.

Similarly, ASP Sadiq revealed that on May 9, 2024, at about 45 hrs, the command foiled a kidnapping and cattle rustling attempt by bandits in Gidan-Maga village, Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State.

This follows a distress call received at the Malumfashi divisional headquarters that armed bandits in their numbers, wielding AK-47 rifles, attacked Gidan-Maga village and kidnapped 10 residents. They also rustled 16 cows.

On receiving the report, the DPO Malumfashi promptly mobilised officers and responded to the scene, where they engaged the bandits in a fierce gun duel. 

“The gallant team successfully foiled the attack and rescued all the kidnapped victims unhurt. The 16 suspected rustled cows were also recovered as the bandits fled the scene with gunshot wounds,” Sadiq said.

The Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Command, CP Aliyu Abubakar Musa, commended the bravery and professionalism displayed by the operatives. He reiterated the command’s commitment to ensuring maximum safety and security of residents in the state.