The police command in Kaduna state has rescued four kidnap victims after repelling a bandit attack in Dutsin-Ma council area.

In a statement on Thursday, Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, the command’s spokesperson, said the command recovered weapons and other exhibits during the operation on Wednesday at about 12:22 a.m.

Mr Aliyu said the command received a distress call at the Dutsin-Ma Divisional Police Headquarters reporting that armed bandits had attacked Makwanta village in Dutsin-Ma council area and abducted three women.

He said the divisional police officer immediately mobilised a team of operatives to the scene.

According to him, the operatives tracked and blocked the fleeing bandits along the Dutsin-Ma-Danmusa local government border, then engaged them in a gun duel.

“Overpowered by the superior firepower and tactics, the bandits fled into the surrounding bush with suspected gunshot wounds,” he said.

The rescued hostages are Marawiya Musa, 14; Mariya Ibrahim, 50; Amina Ibrahim, 21; and a baby.

He said the police recovered one AK-47 rifle loaded with five rounds of live ammunition, one Tecno phone, three MP3 players, one knife and three wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.

Mr Aliyu added that efforts to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects were being intensified.