Residents commend security operatives for repelling kidnappers from Katsina State housing estate

Residents of Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State, on Sunday commended the police, army and members of a vigilance group for repelling Saturday’s kidnap attempt at Tijjani Malumfashi Housing Estate.

About 50 suspected kidnappers attacked residents of the housing estate and attempted to kidnap a number of its residents on Saturday.

A resident said the assailants stormed the estate at about 11 p.m. and immediately began to shoot into the air.

He said they grouped themselves and went from house to house, bringing out the residents before the intervention of security operatives who got wind of the incident.

He added that the arrival of security operatives saved the residents, including a judge, from being taken away by the gunmen.

The resident also said the assailants had brought at least six persons out of their residences, tied and blindfolded them before the arrival of the security personnel.

“The Divisional Police Officer at Malumfashi, alongside a team of policemen, troops of the Nigerian Army and members of the vigilance group successfully repelled the attack.

“There was heavy exchange of gunfire between the kidnappers and the security personnel for more than one hour before the gunmen fled.

“The gunmen shot one of the would-have-been kidnap victims, a prominent businessman who is currently receiving treatment at the General Hospital, Kwandala Malumfashi,’’ the resident said.

Police spokesman in Katsina State, ASP Aliyu Abubakar-Sadiq, confirmed the incident, saying investigation was on-going.

“We are aware of the incident and investigation has started. The outcome of investigation would be made public,’’ he assured.