The police command in Katsina says it killed one suspected bandit and rescued three kidnapped victims while repelling two separate bandit attacks in Kankia and Musawa local councils.

In a statement on Wednesday, Abubakar Aliyu, the command’s spokesperson, said the incident occurred on Tuesday at about 9:30 p.m., when 12 rustled cows were also rescued during the operation.

He stated that the command received a distress call that suspected armed bandits had attacked Fakuwa village, kidnapping three persons and rustling about twelve cows.

Mr Aliyu said the Divisional Police Office in Kankia swiftly mobilised and led a combined team of police operatives and local vigilantes to the scene.

“The team traced and intercepted the bandits, engaging them in a prolonged gun duel, thereby forcing the hoodlums to abandon their criminal mission and flee into the forest with suspected gunshot wounds,” he stated.

He explained that all the hostages were freed unharmed, and all the rustled cows were recovered. The rescued hostages are Jamila Alti, 50, Aisha Alti, 15 and Alhaji Dalladi, 60.

According to him, the victims have been reunited with their families.

Mr Aliyu said in another incident on Wednesday at Musawa at about 1:30 a.m., a distress call was received that suspected armed bandits had barricaded the Kiryoyi-Dangani Road. He said officers were swiftly mobilised and led a team of VCRU operatives to the scene.

“On arrival, a gun duel ensued, forcing the bandits to flee the area. During a subsequent cordon and search operation, the body of one neutralised bandit was recovered with a machete by his side,” he said.

He added that efforts to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects were ongoing