Police repel bandit attack, rescue four victims in Katsina

Police operatives in Katsina State have repelled a bandit attack in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area, rescuing four kidnapped victims and recovering an AK-47 rifle loaded with five rounds of ammunition.

The incident occurred at about 12:22am on Wednesday when armed bandits attacked Makwanta village and abducted three female residents, according to a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, on Thursday.

According to the statement, following a distress call, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Dutsin-Ma mobilised operatives who tracked the fleeing bandits towards the Dutsin-Ma-Danmusa border.

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It added that the police team reportedly intercepted the suspects and engaged them in a gun battle, forcing the bandits to retreat into the bush with suspected gunshot wounds.

It further revealed that the operation led to the rescue of 14-year-old Marawiya Musa, Mariya Ibrahim, 50; Amina Ibrahim, 21; and a nursing baby. The victims were rescued unhurt, the statement said.

The police also recovered an AK-47 rifle with five rounds of live ammunition, a Tecno mobile phone, three MP3 players, a knife and three wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.

The statement said Katsina State Commissioner of Police, CP Ali Umar Fage, commended the DPO and his operatives for their swift response and urged residents to continue providing timely information to security agencies.