‌6 killed, 3 kidnapped as police, soldiers repel bandits in Katsina

Five bandits were killed by security forces Tuesday morning when they (bandits) in their large numbers attacked Tsaskiya community in Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The bandits were said to have kidnapped three women during the gun battle while retreating to the forest.

Sources said the bandits who were in their large numbers and armed with weapons including General Purpose Machine Guns and AK 47 rifle, took the community by storm about 4 am.

They were said to be on a revenge mission.

It was further learnt that the police and the military engaged the bandits in a gun battle during which the bandits lost five of their members while some reportedly escaped with gunshot injuries. The sixth person who died was one Rabe Bala, a lunatic from the village.

The spokesman for the Katsina Police Command, SP Gambo Isah, confirmed the incident and added that efforts were on to rescue the kidnapped women.

He said, “On 27/10/2020, at about 04:00hrs, based on credible intelligence, the Command in collaboration with the military, succeeded in repelling coordinated attack by bandits on revenge mission on Tsaskiya Community of Safana LGA of Katsina state.

”Bandits numbering over two hundred (200) armed with sophisticated weapons such as General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) and AK 47 rifles, shooting indiscriminately, clandestinely attacked the village through three (3) entry security barricades.

”In the spur of the moment, the teams engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel and as a result five (5) suspected bandits were killed and many escaped with gunshots wounds. On the other hand, the hoodlums shot and killed one Rabe Bala, ‘M’, aged 30yrs, a lunatic from the village.

“The hoodlums while on their way out kidnapped three women who ran into a nearby bush path for safety. Search parties are still combing the nearby bushes with a view to recovering more dead bodies and/or arrest the injured bandits.

” Investigation is ongoing.”