Katsina State Police Command thwarted an attempted mass kidnapping, rescuing 21 individuals who had been taken by suspected armed bandits. The incident occurred Thursday night in Jibia Township, Jibia Local Government Area, where three neighborhoods—Ka’ida, Unguwar One Boy, and Danmarke—came under attack by bandits.
ASP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, spokesperson for the Katsina Police Command, revealed that the operation was made possible through the combined efforts of the Police, Nigerian Army, State Community Watch Corps, and local vigilantes. “In a swift and coordinated response, we successfully foiled simultaneous bandits’ attacks at Ka’ida, Unguwar One Boy, and Danmarke quarters in Jibia Township, Katsina State,” he stated.
According to Sadiq-Aliyu, the assault by armed bandits began around 9:15 p.m., and a fierce gun battle ensued. The determined response from the joint security forces led by the Divisional Police Officer of Jibia forced the attackers to withdraw after more than an hour of intense combat. During the clash, 16 of the captives were successfully freed, while five others were later rescued despite sustaining gunshot wounds. These injured individuals were swiftly transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
Unfortunately, the encounter led to the loss of two lives among the security personnel: a member of the state’s security corps and a vigilante who, in Sadiq-Aliyu’s words, “paid the ultimate price” while defending the community.
The Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Abubakar-Musa, expressed continued dedication to ensuring the safety of Katsina’s residents. He called on citizens to report any unusual or suspicious activities to nearby authorities, reaffirming the Command’s commitment to fighting crime and safeguarding lives and property.
