By:Abdullahi Inuwa
KATSINA — Operatives of the Katsina State Police Command have successfully foiled a kidnapping attempt and rescued nine victims after engaging suspected bandits in a fierce gun duel along the Katsina-Kankara highway.
The incident occurred on Friday when armed bandits reportedly blocked the Katsina-Kankara Road at Tashar Kanya Village in Kankara Local Government Area and abducted passengers travelling in a commercial vehicle.
According to the Police Command, the attackers intercepted a red Volkswagen Golf III saloon car conveying eleven passengers from Dandume to Katsina and forcefully whisked away all occupants into the bush.
Acting swiftly on a distress report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Kankara mobilised a combined team of operatives, including personnel of the Violent Crime Rescue Unit (VCRU), to the scene.
The police team engaged the bandits in a gun battle, forcing the criminals to abandon their captives and flee due to the superior firepower and tactical manoeuvres of the operatives.
A subsequent search operation led to the rescue of nine victims, including women and children, all unharmed.
The rescued victims were identified as Abubakar Ibrahim, Rakkiya Ya’u, Shamsiya Ahmad Mahamud, Jumai Majarazu, Salamatu Adamu, Yusuf Halliru, Harira Hamisu, Umma Kabir, and three-year-old Nusaiba Maharazu.
However, two persons—Buhari Kabir and the driver of the vehicle, Aliyu, popularly known as “Maitakabari”—remain unaccounted for.
Police authorities disclosed that a search-and-rescue operation is ongoing to locate and rescue the remaining victims while efforts have been intensified to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects.
Commending the bravery and professionalism of the operatives, the Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Command, CP Ali Umar Fage, reaffirmed the Command’s determination to sustain the fight against banditry and other violent crimes across the state.
He assured residents that the police, in collaboration with other security agencies, would continue to pursue criminal elements and ensure the safety of lives and property throughout Katsina State.
The latest operation is being hailed as another significant breakthrough in the Command’s ongoing efforts to combat insecurity and restore confidence among communities affected by bandit attacks.This version is written in a strong newspaper style with a compelling headline, clear lead, and professional news structure suitable for daily publication.
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