He said the operatives engaged the bandits in a gun duel, forcing them to flee into a nearby bush.
The Katsina Police Command has foiled separate kidnapping and cattle rustling attempts in Kankia and Charanchi Local Government Areas (LGAs), rescuing two kidnapped women unharmed.
He said the first incident occurred on Saturday, at about 11:45 a.m., when armed bandits riding three motorcycles attacked Jauga settlement in Sabon Gida Village, Kankia LGA, and abducted two women.
Mr Sadiq-Aliyu said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Kankia immediately mobilised operatives to the scene after receiving a distress call.
He said the operatives engaged the bandits in a gun duel, forcing them to flee into a nearby bush with suspected gunshot wounds and abandoning the victims.
According to him, the rescued victims were identified as 20-year-old Rukayya Yahaya and 22-year-old Sahura Abdulhadi, both residents of the community.
The police spokesman also said that on Monday, the command foiled an attempted cattle-rustling attack in Majen Waya Village, Charanchi LGA.
He explained that the incident occurred at about 10 a.m. when suspected armed bandits invaded the village with the intention of rustling cattle.
Mr Sadiq-Aliyu said the DPO in Charanchi promptly deployed an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) patrol team, which confronted the hoodlums in a gun duel.
“The bandits were overwhelmed by the superior firepower of the operatives and fled into the bush with suspected bullet wounds.
“No life was lost, and no cattle were rustled during the operation. Normalcy has been restored to the area, while aggressive tactical patrols are ongoing,” he said.
He added that efforts had been intensified to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects.
Mr Sadiq-Aliyu said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ali Umar-Fage, commended the gallantry and swift response of the operatives.
He quoted the commissioner as reaffirming the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state.
The commissioner also urged residents to continue supporting the police by providing timely and credible information to enhance security and facilitate prompt responses to criminal activities.
(NAN)
