The Katsina State Police Command has rescued 18 victims of kidnapping and recovered cattle that the bandits had stolen.
The state’s police spokesperson, ASP Abubakar Sadiq, said on Sunday that the separate incident happened on January 3, 2025, along the Funtua-Gusau highway.
The police were notified that four vehicles carrying eighteen passengers were ambushed by armed bandits.
Armed with AK-47 rifles, the gunmen tried to abduct the passengers being conveyed two DAF cars, and a Toyota Avensis, among others.
However, after a gunfight, the victims were rescued.
Later that night, in another incident, bandits robbed cattle breeders in the Kafur Local Government Area’s Gidan Gada village.
According to Sadiq, the robbers were pursued to Fanisau hamlet by police officers from the Kafur and Malumfashi Divisions, where another gun duel took place.
Although the Kafur DPO was wounded and is still undergoing treatment, the rustled livestock were found.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Aliyu Abubakar Musa, commended the officers’ courage and asked the public to keep providing timely information to support security efforts.