Police stop bandits in Katsina and save four hostages

The Katsina State Police have stopped a bandit attack in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area. They rescued four kidnapped victims and found an AK-47 rifle with five bullets.

The victims included three women and a nursing baby. They were taken when armed bandits attacked Makwanta village early Wednesday morning.

This information came from a statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq, shared with reporters on Thursday.

The statement said, “On September 16, 2026, at about 12:22 am, we got a distress call at the Dutsin-Ma Divisional Police Headquarters. The call reported that armed bandits had attacked Makwanta village and took three female residents.”

After getting the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) quickly organized a team of officers to go to the location. They tracked the fleeing bandits to the Dutsin-Ma-Danmusa LGA border and confronted them in a fierce gun battle.

The police team overpowered the bandits, who then ran into the nearby bush with suspected gunshot injuries. The rescued victims were identified as 14-year-old Marawiya Musa, 50-year-old Mariya Ibrahim, 21-year-old Amina Ibrahim, and a nursing baby.

The police confirmed that all four victims were safe and unhurt. Sadiq added, “While searching the area, our operatives found one AK-47 rifle with five live bullets, a Tecno mobile phone, three MP3 players, a knife, and three wraps of dried leaves believed to be Indian hemp.”

The police said they are continuing efforts to catch the bandits who escaped. The Commissioner of Police, CP Ali Umar Fage, praised the DPO and his team for their bravery and quick action.

Fage assured the public that the police will keep fighting against banditry and other violent crimes in the state. He also urged residents to stay alert and share any useful information with security agencies to help protect lives and property.

The police promised to update the public as investigations continue.