Police thwart bandit attack, rescues five abducted victims in Katsina

Operatives of the Katsina State Police Command successfully thwarted two separate bandit attacks and rescued five kidnapped victims, while also neutralizing two kidnappers. This was confirmed by the command’s Spokesman, ASP Abubakar Sadiq, in a statement released to the Punch on Monday.

Sadiq reported that on Sunday, a distress call was received regarding a bandit attack in Layin Minister Village, Malumfashi Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, during which five individuals were abducted.

He detailed that at approximately 10:00 AM on August 25, 2024, the Malumfashi Divisional Police Headquarters received an alert about the attack. Police operatives were promptly dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, the bandits fired upon the responding officers, who countered the assault effectively. All five kidnapped victims were rescued unharmed, while the bandits, who sustained various injuries from police fire, fled.

Later that same day, at around 5:40 PM, another distress call alerted the Malumfashi Divisional Police Headquarters about an attack by armed bandits on Marabar Kankara village. The bandits, who were on twelve motorcycles and armed with dangerous weapons, took advantage of the rain to launch their attack. The Division Police Officer (DPO) of Malumfashi quickly assembled a team of operatives, who engaged the bandits in a fierce gunfight, successfully preventing the attack.

During the aftermath, the bodies of two suspected bandits were recovered. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining fugitives, and an investigation is underway.

The Commissioner of Police for Katsina State, CP Aliyu Musa, praised the bravery of the police operatives and reaffirmed the command’s dedication to enhancing security in the region.