The Katsina State Police Command has foiled an attempted cattle rustling operation and recovered 20 stolen cows after a gun battle with suspected bandits in Jibia Local Government Area.
The incident occurred in Korama Mai-Zurfi village, where armed bandits reportedly invaded the community and rustled 20 cows.
The command said the Divisional Police Officer of Jibia Division immediately deployed operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, working alongside local vigilantes, to pursue the attackers.
Security personnel strategically blocked the bandits’ escape routes, triggering a fierce exchange of gunfire.
Overpowered by the combined security team, the suspects abandoned all 20 rustled cattle and fled into nearby bushes with varying degrees of gunshot injuries.
Police spokesperson DSP Abubakar Sadiq disclosed the development in a statement on Friday, adding that security operatives had intensified surveillance and launched a manhunt to arrest the fleeing suspects.
The Commissioner of Police in Katsina State, Ali Umar Fage, commended the swift response and bravery of the operatives, reaffirming the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state.
The command also appealed to members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to support ongoing efforts to combat crime, assuring residents that all information received would be treated with strict confidentiality.