Operatives of the Katsina police command have rescued no fewer than thirteen kidnapped victims and recovered sixteen rustled animals in Faskari and Malumfashi Local Government Areas of the state.
The spokesman for the command confirmed the development on Thursday.
He revealed that on Wednesday, 8, May, 2024 around 11.50 p.m, the operatives intercepted a commercial vehicle along Funtua/Gusau road that had earlier being attacked by bandits .
According to him, the bandits wanted to kidnap the three passengers inside the vehicle before the police operatives swooped on them and rescued the victims unhurt after a fierce gun battle.
Aliyu explained “On May 8, 2024, at about 11.50 p.m, the command in a swift rescue operation succeeded in foiling a kidnapping attempt at Unguwar Boka village, Faskari Local Government Area, along Funtua-Gusau road.
“One Golf III motor vehicle conveying three (3) passengers en route to Yan Kara village, Faskari LGA.
“Upon reaching the scene, the bandits, having barricaded the road, opened fire on the motor vehicle in an attempt to force the driver to a stop with the intent to kidnap the occupants of the vehicle.
“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 (3) victims unhurt. The bandits, however, fled the scene with gunshot wounds. An investigation is currently ongoing with a view to identifying and arresting the fleeing suspects.”
The Command’s spokesman equally revealed that on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at about 12.45 a.m, it’s operatives successfully foiled a kidnapping and cattle rustling attempt by bandits in Gidan-Maga village, Malumfashi Local Government Area of the state.
He said “A distress call was received at the Malumfashi divisional headquarters that armed bandits in their numbers, wielding AK 47 rilfes, attacked Gidan-Maga village, kidnap ten (10) residents and rustled about sixteen (16) cows.
“Promptly, the DPO Malumfashi 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; sixteen (16) suspected rustled cows were also recovered as the bandits fled the scene with gunshot wounds.”
Aliyu added that the state Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Abubakar Musa, while commending “the bravery and professionalism displayed by the operatives, reiterates the command’s commitment towards ensuring maximum safety and security of the good people of the state.”