Katsina Police Rescue Abducted Women, Repel Bandits In Twin Operations

The Katsina State Police Command has foiled separate kidnapping and cattle rustling attempts in Kankia and Charanchi Local Government Areas, rescuing two abducted women and preventing the theft of livestock during coordinated security operations.

The command said the armed bandits fled into nearby bushes with suspected gunshot wounds after engaging police operatives in separate gun battles.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, disclosed the developments in a statement issued on Monday in Katsina.

According to the statement, the first incident occurred on Saturday at about 11:45 a.m when armed bandits riding three motorcycles attacked Jauga Settlement in Sabon Gida Village, Kankia Local Government Area, and abducted two women.

Sadiq-Aliyu said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Kankia immediately mobilised operatives to the scene after receiving a distress call.

The police team confronted the attackers in a gun duel, forcing them to abandon the victims and flee into a nearby bush with suspected gunshot injuries.

The rescued victims were identified as 20-year-old Rukayya Yahaya and 22-year-old Sahura Abdulhadi, both residents of the community. Police said the women were rescued unharmed.

In a separate operation on Monday, the command also foiled an attempted cattle rustling attack in Majen Waya Village, Charanchi Local Government Area.

According to the police, suspected armed bandits invaded the community at about 10:00 a.m. with the intention of rustling cattle.

The DPO in Charanchi promptly deployed an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) patrol team to the area, where officers engaged the attackers in another exchange of gunfire.

"The bandits were overwhelmed by the superior firepower of the operatives and fled into the bush with suspected bullet wounds," Sadiq-Aliyu said.

He added that no lives were lost during the operation and no cattle were stolen.

Police said normalcy has since been restored to the affected community, while tactical patrols have been intensified to prevent further attacks.

The command also confirmed that efforts are ongoing to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects.

Commending the operatives for their swift response and professionalism, the Commissioner of Police, Ali Umar-Fage, reaffirmed the command's commitment to protecting lives and property across Katsina State.

He also appealed to residents to continue supporting the police by providing timely and credible information that could assist security agencies in preventing and combating criminal activities across the state.