By Abdullahi InuwaÂ
A midnight mission by suspected bandits to whisk away rustled cattle and their captive ended in failure after operatives of the Katsina State Police Command launched two successful counter-operations that rescued a kidnapped woman and recovered 15 stolen cows.
The intelligence-driven operations, carried out in Funtua and Musawa Local Government Areas, forced the armed criminals to flee into nearby forests after intense gunfire with security personnel.
Police said the first breakthrough came around 2:00 a.m. on Saturday when officers at the Central Police Station, Funtua, received credible intelligence that armed bandits were attempting to move rustled cattle across the Funtua-Dandume border.
The Divisional Police Officer immediately led a team of operatives to intercept the gang. On arriving at the scene, the bandits reportedly opened fire, but the officers responded with superior firepower, forcing the attackers to abandon their mission and escape into the forest.
A sweep of the area led to the dramatic rescue of Hafiza Rabiu, who had been kidnapped by the fleeing suspects. She was found unharmed, given medical attention and reunited with her family. The team also recovered seven rustled cows.
In another operation two days earlier, police operatives in Musawa, working with members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps (KSCWC), foiled another cattle rustling attempt after armed bandits invaded Kuru Village.
The security team swiftly tracked the fleeing suspects into a nearby bush, where another gun battle ensued. Unable to withstand the pressure from the combined security forces, the bandits fled, abandoning eight stolen cows, all of which were recovered.
The Katsina State Police Command said efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects and dismantle the criminal gangs behind the attacks.
Commending the operatives for their courage and professionalism, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ali Umar Fage, praised residents for providing timely intelligence that made the operations successful.
He urged members of the public to continue supporting security agencies with credible information, stressing that community collaboration remains a key weapon in the fight against banditry and other violent crimes across Katsina State.
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