The Katsina State Police Command has foiled a kidnapping attempt and rescued nine passengers after suspected bandits attacked a vehicle along the Katsina–Kankara highway.
The Command’s spokesperson, DSP Abubakar Sadiq, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday, saying the incident occurred at about 2:30 p.m. on Thursday at Tashar Kanya Village in Kankara Local Government Area.
According to the statement, the armed bandits blocked the highway and intercepted a red Volkswagen Golf III saloon car with registration number KMC 400 MK. The vehicle, driven by 40-year-old Aliyu, popularly known as “Maitakabari,” was conveying 11 passengers from Dandume to Katsina when it came under attack.
Upon receiving the distress report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Kankara swiftly deployed a team of operatives, including personnel from the Violent Crime Rescue Unit (VCRU), to the scene.
The operatives engaged the bandits in a fierce gun battle and, aided by superior firepower and tactical manoeuvres, forced the attackers to flee into the surrounding area.
A subsequent search operation led to the rescue of nine victims unharmed.
However, two persons — the driver, Aliyu, and another passenger, Buhari Kabir — were still unaccounted for as of the time of the report.
Police said efforts were ongoing to locate the missing victims and apprehend the fleeing suspects.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ali Umar Fage, commended the operatives for their prompt response and reaffirmed the command’s resolve to combat banditry and other violent crimes across the state.
