THE Katsina State Police Command has recorded fresh security breakthroughs following the rescue of 11 kidnapped passengers and the recovery of 25 rustled cows during separate operations carried out across the state.
In a statement released today, the command’s spokesperson, Abubakar Sadiq, said the successful operations were carried out by police operatives responding swiftly to distress calls from affected communities.
According to the statement, the first incident occurred yesterday, May 18, 2026, at about 8:45 p.m., when the Divisional Police Officer of Kankara Division received intelligence that armed bandits had blocked the Sheme-Kankara Road around Kakumi Village in Kankara Local Government Area.
The attackers reportedly stopped an unregistered Toyota Hiace bus conveying 11 passengers travelling to Kano and abducted all the occupants.
Police operatives, led by the DPO, immediately moved to the area and engaged the bandits in a gun battle.
Sadiq stated that the criminals eventually fled into the bush after being overpowered by the police team’s superior firepower, abandoning the victims at the scene.
“All 11 kidnapped passengers were rescued unharmed, while security operatives have intensified bush combing operations to apprehend the fleeing suspects,” the statement noted.
In a separate incident on the same evening around 8:50 p.m., police received another distress call reporting that armed bandits had invaded Badawa Village in Malumfashi and rustled 25 cows.
The DPO of Malumfashi Division reportedly mobilised patrol teams to the area and intercepted the suspects along a suspected escape route on the outskirts of the community.
Following an exchange of gunfire, the bandits abandoned the stolen cattle and escaped from the scene.
Police confirmed that all 25 cows were recovered successfully and returned to their owners, while patrol and surveillance activities have been intensified in the affected areas to prevent further attacks.
The Commissioner of Police in Katsina State, Ali Umar Fage, lauded the bravery and professionalism of the officers involved in the operations.
He also assured residents that the command remains committed to sustaining aggressive operations against kidnappers, bandits, and other criminal groups operating within the state.
