At least 18 kidnap victims have been rescued from the hands of bandits in Katsina State after the state police command foiled kidnap attempt along the Funtua-Gusau highway in Zamfara State.
The Command also succeeded in recovering an unspecified number of rustled animals after foiling cattle rustling attempt at Gidan Gada village in Kafur Local Government Area of the state.
The kidnapping attempt occurred on January 3rd, 2025, at about 21:30 hrs, after an information was received at the Faskari Divisional Police Headquarters that some suspected armed bandits armed with AK-47 rifles, shooting sporadically, ambushed 4 vehicles at a point along the Funtua-Gusau highway.
The vehicles, one Toyota Avensis, maroon in colour, en route to Yankara village from Batsari; one DAF motor vehicle, white in colour; one Pacars Canter motor vehicle; and one DAF, green in colour, all en route to Funtua from Gusau, Zamfara State, conveying 18 passengers, were attacked by the suspected kidnappers in an attempt to kidnap all the occupants.
One of the vehicles attacked by the bandits
Upon receipt of the report, the Divisional Police Officer of Faskari Divisional Police Headquarters, promptly mobilised operatives to the scene where a gunfight ensued.
In a statement on Sunday, police spokesman ASP Abubakar Sadiq noted that the team successfully repelled the armed bandits’ attack and rescued 18 victims unharmed.
In a related development, on the same date at about 23:00 hrs, some suspected armed bandits attacked Gidan Gada village, Kafur LGA, Katsina State, rustling a number of cattle.
Upon receipt of the report, the DPOs of Kafur and Malumfashi Divisional Police Headquarters jointly mobilised and traced the suspected armed bandits to the area of Fanisau village where they engaged the bandits in a gun duel, successfully recovering all the rustled animals.
“Unfortunately, the DPO Kafur sustained a gunshot injury during the encounter and was immediately rushed to the hospital for immediate medical attention and is currently responding to treatment.
“Efforts are on top gear to ensure the arrest of the perpetrators of the dastardly act”, the statement added.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Aliyu Abubakar Musa, while commending the exceptional act of valour displayed by the officers, urged members of the public to continue supporting the command as well as other security agencies in the state with timely information for prompt and decisive action.