‘Three kidnappers killed’ as police repel attack on Katsina highway

The Katsina police command says three suspected kidnappers were killed during an attempt to abduct travellers on the Dutsinma-Kankara highway in the state.

NAN reports that Abubakar Aliyu, police spokesperson in the state, said the incident occurred at about 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Aliyu said the suspected robbers and kidnappers blocked the highway and were carrying “dangerous weapons”.

He added that the police operatives arrived at the location and engaged the suspects in a gun battle, adding that three of them were killed in the process.

“On Dec. 10, 2023, at about 4:30 p.m, based on credible information that some suspected armed robbers and kidnappers, wielding dangerous weapons such as AK-47 rifles, blocked the Dutsinma-Kankara highway in an attempt to kidnap unsuspecting members of the public,” he said.

“Upon receipt of the report, area commander Dutsinma promptly mobilised a joint team of police operatives and members of the vigilante and responded to the scene.

“On reaching the scene, the suspected kidnappers opened fire on the operatives, to which the officers valiantly returned fire and succeeded in neutralising three members of the gang.

“One Masa’udu Sani, a member of the vigilante, sustained a gunshot wound on his right hand.”

The police spokesperson said the vigilante has been taken to the hospital for medical attention, adding that the operatives are making efforts to capture the fleeing suspects.

He said Aliyu Musa, commissioner of police in the state, commended the operatives for their efforts and urged them to sustain the tempo.

Musa called on residents of the state to support the command and other security agencies with relevant information on the activities of criminals “so that swift and decisive action could be taken to stop any criminal activity in the state”.

“And also to report to the nearest police station any person seen with suspicious injuries, as some of the bandits have escaped the scene with gunshot wounds,” the commissioner added.