The Katsina State Police Command announced on Saturday that it successfully neutralized seven suspected bandits during an operation to foil an attack on Ruwan Dorowa Village in Dutsinma Local Government Area.
The operation also led to the recovery of 109 rustled animals, including 61 cows, 44 sheep, two donkeys, a goat, and a dog.
According to a statement by the police spokesperson, DSP Abubakar Sadiq, the incident occurred on January 18, 2025, at approximately 9:00 a.m., when the Dutsinma Divisional Police Headquarters received a distress call reporting an armed attack by suspected bandits wielding dangerous weapons, including AK-47 rifles.
Acting on the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), in collaboration with the military, Department of State Services (DSS), members of the Katsina Community Security Watch Corps, and local vigilantes, swiftly mobilized a response team to the scene.
The coordinated effort successfully thwarted the attack, neutralized the assailants, and secured the stolen livestock.
“Upon arrival, the team engaged the bandits in a fierce gun battle, which resulted in the neutralisation of seven (7) suspected armed bandits as the remaining fled the scene with various degrees of injuries, abandoning all the suspected rustled animals”, he noted.
The Katsina State Commissioner of Police, CP Aliyu Abubakar Musa, has commended the operatives for their exceptional gallantry, valor, and professionalism during the operation. He emphasized the command’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the lives and property of residents.
CP Musa also urged the public to actively support the police by providing timely and valuable information that would aid in the ongoing fight against crime and criminal activities across the state.