Fourteen women kidnapped on Friday nightfrom Kwantawama village in Dutsinma Local Government Area of Katsina State have been rescued by the police after a gun duel with their abductors.
State Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Gambo Isah, who confirmed this in a statement on Saturday, said the bandits numbering over 40 rode on motorcycles and were armed with AK 47 rifles.
They attacked the village, where they kidnapped the women, including children and rustled a large number of domestic animals.
He said, the Divisional Police Officer, Dutsinma, CSP Muhammad Makama, led “Operation Puff Adder” to the village, chased the hoodlums into the fringes of Rugu forest and engaged them in a gun duel, leading to their dislodgement and rescue of all the victims.
Makama said one of the bandits identified as Amadu Yusuf, 30, of Tudu village, Kurfi LGA, was arrested just as thirty cows and sixty sheep were recovered.
He added that “One suspected stolen motorcycle was also recovered which was abandoned by the bandits.
“Similarly, bandits attacked Zamfarawa village, Batsari LGA, and rustled animals but DPO Batsari led Operation Puff Adder, chased and engaged the hoodlums into a gun duel. The bandits abandoned the animals and escaped into the forest. The team recovered all the twelve rustled cows and handed them over to their owners.”