Heavy Gunfire as Police, Army Clash with Kidnappers; Victims Rescued

Katsina State witnessed a tense exchange of gunfire as operatives from the Katsina State Police Command, alongside military personnel, successfully thwarted two separate kidnapping attempts over the weekend.

According to a statement released on Saturday by ASP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, the Public Relations Officer for the Katsina Police Command, the first incident occurred on the Jibia-Kauran Namoda road. Responding to a distress call received at the Jibia Divisional Police Headquarters, police and military units quickly arrived at the scene and engaged the kidnappers in a gun duel. During this confrontation, four hostages were rescued and taken to a hospital for medical treatment. Tragically, one victim did not survive the gunshot wounds sustained during the attack.

The second kidnapping attempt was reported at Unguwar Boka village in the Faskari Local Government Area, along the Funua-Gusau road. Similar to the first incident, law enforcement and military personnel responded promptly, resulting in another exchange of gunfire with the assailants. Unfortunately, one victim was also fatally shot in this attack, although two other hostages were rescued unharmed.

ASP Sadiq-Aliyu emphasized that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators involved in these violent incidents, as investigations continue.