The Katsina State Police Command has foiled a bandit attack in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area, rescuing four abducted victims, including a nursing baby, and recovering an AK-47 rifle loaded with five rounds of live ammunition.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, September 16, when armed bandits reportedly attacked Makwanta village and abducted three female residents.
According to the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq, a distress call was received at the Dutsin-Ma Divisional Police Headquarters at about 12:22 a.m., prompting the Divisional Police Officer to mobilise police operatives to the area.
The officers reportedly tracked the fleeing attackers and intercepted them along the Dutsin-Ma-Danmusa Local Government Area border. A gun battle subsequently broke out between the police team and the suspected bandits.
The police said the attackers were overpowered and fled into the surrounding bush, with some of them believed to have sustained gunshot injuries.
During the operation, the security team rescued four victims who had been taken by the attackers. The victims were identified by the police as 14-year-old Marawiya Musa, 50-year-old Mariya Ibrahim, 21-year-old Amina Ibrahim and a nursing baby.
The command said all four victims were rescued unhurt and were taken to safety following the operation.
A search of the area also led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle containing five rounds of live ammunition. Police said officers additionally recovered a Tecno mobile phone, three MP3 players, a knife and three wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.
The Commissioner of Police in Katsina State, CP Ali Umar Fage, commended the officers involved in the operation, praising their response to the distress call and their handling of the attack.
The command said efforts were continuing to locate and arrest the fleeing suspects. Police also urged residents to remain vigilant and provide credible information that could assist security agencies in preventing further attacks.
The incident adds to a series of security operations recorded in Katsina in recent weeks as authorities continue efforts to tackle banditry and kidnapping across the state.
On September 16, police also reported the rescue of two women who had been abducted in Kankia Local Government Area, while several suspects were arrested in separate operations involving kidnapping cases in the state.
The latest operation highlights the importance of rapid responses to distress calls in communities vulnerable to attacks. However, the police have not announced any arrests from the Makwanta incident, and the identities of the fleeing attackers remain unknown.
For now, the rescued victims are safe, while security personnel continue efforts to track those responsible for the attack and establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
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