The police command in Katsina says it killed five suspected terrorists, arrested one and recovered 143 animals in Jibia and Batsari LGAs.

This was disclosed in a statement by the command’s spokesman, ASP Abubakar Aliyu, on Sunday.

It said the team, in an intelligence-led operation, raided and cleared bandits’ camps in the two affected local governments, adding that the operation was conducted in collaboration with hunters and vigilantes.

“The operation was led by the command’s officer in charge of the Anti-kidnapping Unit and that of the Special Investigations Bureau (SIB). The team succeeded in dislodging several notorious bandits’ camps at Marake, Garin Yara and Garin Labo villages, all in Batsari local government,” the police explained.

The command’s statement added, “The team also dislodged another camp of one Audu Lankai, a notorious bandits’ leader terrorising Jibia and its environs.”

According to the police, during the operation, Abubakar Idris, 18, a suspected notorious bandit, was arrested, while five others were killed. The statement further revealed that 38 cows, 40 sheep and 65 goats were recovered at the bandits’ camps.

The police are still combing the area for possible arrests of other bandits or to recover more of their corpses.

The police commissioner called on Katsina residents to continue to assist security agencies with vital information to curb criminal activities in the state. 

(NAN)