Police foil two kidnap attempts, rescue 20 victims in Katsina

The Katsina State Police Command has foiled two separate kidnap attempts in Jibia and Faskari Local Government Areas of the state.

The command also rescued 20 kidnapped victims during the operations on Saturday in these areas.

Briefing newsmen on Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Abubakar Sadiq, said the first incident occurred on December 7th, 2024, at about 19:00 hours at Kwanar Makera along the Katsina–Magamar Jibia road in Jibia LGA.
A group of armed bandits, wielding dangerous weapons such as AK-47 rifles, opened fire on a moving vehicle, attempting to abduct the occupants.

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“However, operatives of the command attached to the Jibia Divisional Police Headquarters, acting on a tip-off, swiftly responded and engaged the bandits in a gun duel, forcing them to abandon their mission and flee the scene with gunshot injuries. All ten occupants of the vehicle were successfully rescued unharmed.

“In a similar incident, on the same date at about 20:30 hours at Marabar Bangori, along the Funtua–Gusau road in Faskari LGA, suspected armed bandits laid an ambush on a motor vehicle carrying passengers. The command’s operatives, alerted to the situation, quickly mobilised and stormed the scene, engaging the bandits in a fierce gun duel. Due to superior firepower, the bandits abandoned their heinous plan and fled the scene, with all the passengers successfully rescued.

“Unfortunately, one of the rescued victims was rushed to the hospital due to severe assault inflicted on him by the assailants. The victim is currently responding to medical treatment.

“The Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Command, CP Aliyu Abubakar Musa, psc†, while commending the gallantry and professionalism displayed by the officers, charged them to sustain the tempo in the ongoing fight against all forms of crime and criminality in the state, reiterating the command’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of the people of the state,” Sadiq said.