The Katsina State Police Command says it repelled bandits’ attack in Dabaibayawa village of Batagarawa and Dankiri village of Dutsinma Local Government Area on Tuesday. 

The command’s spokesperson, Gambo Isah, disclosed this while addressing journalists on Wednesday in Katsina.

“On May 17, 2022, a distress call was received that terrorists in their numbers attacked Dantakiri village, Dutsinma LGA and rustled an unspecified number of domestic animals,” he said.

Mr Isah disclosed that the command also neutralised six suspected terrorists and recovered AK 47 riffle, 110 cows and 242 sheep and goats after the area commander led teams of policemen and vigilantes, who blocked them at Mararabar-Sayaya, Matazu LGA.   

“The teams engaged the hoodlums into a fierce gun duel, neutralised six terrorists and recovered 86 cows and 101 sheep and goats. 

“In the course of scanning the scene, one AK 47 rifle was also recovered. It is reasonably suspected that some of the terrorists have escaped from the scene with gunshot wounds,” he said.

Mr Isah added that on the same day, another distress call was received that terrorists in their numbers, armed with AK 47 rifles, attacked the farm of rtd AIG Lawal Mani at Dabaibayawa village and rustled all the domestic animals therein. 

“The officer in charge, anti-kidnapping unit, and DPOs of Batagarawa and Batsari were alerted to pursue and block the hoodlums as they were moving towards Rugu forest with the rustled animals.

“Consequently, the team succeeded and intercepted them at Kandawa village, Batsari LGA.

“The team engaged the terrorists in a fierce gun duel and succeeded not only in repelling them but also in recovering all the rustled domestic animals comprising 24 cows and 141 goats and sheep. Investigation is ongoing.”

The police spokesperson disclosed that the command had succeeded in busting syndicates of car thieves and recovered some stolen vehicles.

He further revealed that they also succeeded in arresting a suspected member of terrorists who confessed to having participated in several attacks on villages in Safana LGA of the state. 

(NAN)