Police neutralise two kidnappers, rescue five victims in Katsina

The Katsina State Police Command has neutralised two suspected kidnappers and rescued five victims in Malumfashi Local Government Area.

A statement by the spokesperson for the command, ASP Abubakar Aliyu, said the development occurred in two separate incidents on August 25.

According to Aliyu, a distress call was received at Malumfashi Divisional Police Headquarters at about 5:40 p.m. that some suspected armed bandits, riding on 12 motorcycles and wielding dangerous weapons, were shooting sporadically and taking advantage of the heavy downpour, attacking Marabar Kankara village, Malumfashi LGA.

He added, “Upon receipt of the information, DPO Malumfashi swiftly mobilized operatives and responded to the scene. The team gallantly engaged the hoodlums in a fierce gun duel and successfully foiled the attack. In the course of scanning the scene, the bodies of two neutralised suspected armed bandits were recovered.”

He added that efforts are being intensified to ensure the arrest of the fleeing suspects as the investigation proceeds.

Aliyu further stated that another distress call was received at the same police headquarters at about 10:00 a.m., reporting a bandit attack on Layin Minister village, Malumfashi council, where five people were kidnapped.

“Upon receipt of the report, operatives were quickly dispatched to the scene. On noticing the presence of the police operatives, the hoodlums opened fire, to which the team responded gallantly,” he said.

“All the kidnapped victims were successfully rescued unhurt as the assailants succumbed to the superior firepower of the operatives and fled the scene with various degrees of bullet injuries.”