Katsina Police Arrest Three Suspected Kidnappers, Rescue Two Women from Bandits

Katsina State Police Command has arrested three suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate and rescued two women abducted during a separate bandit attack in the state.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Wednesday, saying the operations took place in Dutsin-Ma and Kankia Local Government Areas.

According to Aliyu, operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit arrested the three suspects during a confidence-building patrol in Dutsin-Ma following credible intelligence. The suspects were identified as 22-year-old Sani Dikko, Kabir Sani and Salisu Bello.

Preliminary investigations, the police said, linked the suspects to the abduction of an elderly man. Aliyu said Dikko confessed to conspiring with the other suspects to kidnap his grandfather, identified as Alhaji Lawal.

The victim was allegedly held captive for 16 days before his release after his family paid N3 million in ransom. Police said the three suspects remain in custody as investigators work to establish the extent of their alleged involvement and uncover other members of the network.

In a separate incident in Kankia Local Government Area, police responded to a distress call at about 12:45 a.m. on Monday after armed bandits attacked Sha’iskawa Fulani Village.

Aliyu said about eight armed men invaded the community and abducted two women, identified as 45-year-old Assubi Rabe and 27-year-old Rabi Isyaku. Police operatives were quickly deployed and engaged the attackers in a gun battle.

The confrontation reportedly forced the bandits to retreat, allowing officers to rescue both women unharmed. The Katsina Command said the operations form part of its continuing efforts to disrupt kidnapping and banditry and improve security across the state.