Operatives of Katsina police command in conjunction with sister security personnel early Wednesday morning in Danmusa Local Government Area of the state rescued three kidnapped victims and recovered twenty- three domestic animals earlier rustled by bandits.
According to the police,the bandits kidnapped the three victims at Yan Shantuma village before the security team rescued them at Tashar Ice village after a gun battle with the bandits .
The spokesman for the Katsina police command, ASP Abubakar Aliyu confirmed the development on Thursday.
He also revealed that the security operatives had in the previous day, rescued another four kidnapped victims in Safana Local Government Area.
Aliyu revealed that the four victims were occupants of an abandoned vehicle found by the roadside at Gobirawa village along Gora-Runka Road.
The police spokesman gave details surrounding the operations thus ” Today, August 14th, 2024, at about 4.30 a.m, a distress call was received at the Danmusa Divisional Police Headquarters that some suspected armed bandits attacked Yan Shantuma village, Danmusa LGA, where they kidnapped three (3) persons, rustled twenty-three (23) goats, and robbed the villagers of food stuffs and some valuables.
“Upon receipt of the report, promptly, the DPO Danmusa mobilized police operatives in collaboration with members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps (KSCWC) and responded to the scene.
“The team ambushed the assailants at Tashar Ice village while trying to escape with the victims, where a firefight ensued, resulting in the assailants fleeing the scene with gunshot injuries as all the kidnapped victims were rescued unhurt and stolen items recovered.
“On August 13th, 2024, at about 6.50 p.m, information was received at Safana Divisional Police Headquarters that a Volkswagen Golf II wagon loaded with goods was seen abandoned by the roadside at Gobirawa village along Gora-Runka road with its occupants suspected to have been kidnapped.
”Quickly, the DPO mobilized a search and rescue team to the scene where the surrounding bushes were rigorously combed. Four (4) occupants of the abandoned vehicle were successfully rescued following a fierce gun duel with the suspected kidnappers and rushed to the hospital for medical attention.
“Efforts are being intensified with a view to arresting the fleeing suspects as the investigation proceeds.
“While praising the operatives’ professionalism, and bravery, the Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Command, CP Aliyu Abubakar Musa, urged the officers to sustain the tempo and called on good citizens of the state to keep providing the command and other security agencies with crucial and timely information on criminal activities so that swift and decisive action could be taken to stop any criminal activity in the state and to report to the nearest police station any person seen with suspicious injuries, as some of the bandits have escaped the scene with gunshot wounds.”