The Katsina State Police Command on Monday repelled terrorists at Unguwar Rinji, Ruwayu village in Kurfi Local Government Area of the state.
Five villagers including a man identified as Alhaji Ali were rescued after a fierce gun duel between the police and the terrorists at the village.
The spokesman for the command, Gambo Isah, confirmed the incident.
He explained that the police received a distress call around 2 a.m on Monday that terrorists had attacked the village and abducted the five victims.
The police were said to have stormed the village and engaged the terrorists “in a fierce gun duel” during which the five victims were rescued.
Isah said, “On 12, December,2022 at about 2.a.m, a distress call was received that terrorists in their numbers, shooting sporadically with AK 47 rifles, attacked Unguwar Rinji, Ruwayau village, Kurfi Local Government Area, and kidnapped one Alhaji Ali and four others. DPO Kurfi, led tactical teams and blocked their exist route.
“Fortunately, the terrorists followed through the expected route. In the spur of the moment, the terrorists were engaged in a fierce gun duel and successfully repelled them. The team succeeded in rescuing all the kidnap victims.
“In the course of scanning the scene, it was reasonably believe that many terrorists escaped the scene with gunshots wounds. Efforts are on with a view to arresting the hoodlums.”
The police spokesman also disclosed that on December 8, 2022 at about 6.45 p.m, the command arrested two suspected terrorists and recovered eight rustled cows and two sheep.
According to the police spokesman, nemesis caught up with the duo of Rabiu Umar, 25, of Salihawa village, Matazu Local Government Area and Surajo Lawal, 30, of Rimin Kanwa village also of the same council in possession of eight rustled cows and two sheep at Gidan Kanya, Sukuntani village, Kankia.
The domestic animals reportedly belonged to one Abubakar Amadu of Tafashiya village, Kankia.
The police added that in the course of investigation, the two suspects confessed to have committed the offence.
Isah added, “On 30, November,2022, they (the two suspects) criminally conspired with the following terrorists who are at large: Bala Usman of Gabace village Kankia;Samaila Sule of Salihawa, Matazu and Idi Uba of Kanwa village, Kankia, attacked the house of the victim with dangerous weapons and robbed him of the animals.
“All the rustled animals were recovered while effort is on top gear with a view to arresting the other members of the syndicate. Investigation is ongoing, please.”
