The Police Command in Katsina State said it foiled a kidnap attempt at Yan Shantuma village in the Danmusa Local Government Area of the state and rescued seven victims.

The spokesman for the command, ASP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, disclosed this in a statement in Katsina on Wednesday.

He said, “On Wednesday, at about 4:30 pm, a distress call was received at the Danmusa Divisional Police Headquarters that some suspected bandits attacked the village.”

According to Mr Sadiq-Aliyu, the suspected bandits kidnapped three persons, rustled 23 goats, robbed the villagers of foodstuffs and some valuables.

He explained, “Upon receipt of the report, the DPO Danmusa mobilised police operatives in collaboration with the members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps and went to the scene. The team ambushed the assailants at Tashar Ice village while trying to escape with the victims, where a fire fight ensued. This resulted in the assailants fleeing the scene with gunshot injuries as the kidnap victims were rescued unhurt and the stolen items recovered.

Consequently, on Tuesday, at about 6:50 pm, information was received at Safana Divisional Police Headquarters. It was to the effect that a Volkswagen Golf II wagon, loaded with goods, was seen abandoned by the roadside at Gobirawa village along Gora-Runka road with its occupants suspected to have been kidnapped.”

Mr Sadiq-Aliyu said that the DPO quickly mobilised a search and rescue team to the scene where the surrounding bushes were vigorously combed.

According to him, four occupants of the abandoned vehicle were successfully rescued following a fierce gun duel with the suspected kidnappers and the victims rushed to the hospital for medical attention.

He stated, “Efforts are being intensified with a view to arresting the fleeing suspects as the investigation proceeds. Commending the efforts of the operatives, the Commissioner of Police in the state urged them to sustain the tempo. He called on the good citizens of the state to keep providing the command and other security agencies with crucial and timely information on criminal activities.”

(NAN)