•Gov: Why I shortened my medical leave
• Army vows to improve security in state

Kidnappers of a 33-year-old man, Anas Ahmadu, his wife, and his little daughter, have demanded a N600 million ransom.  A source said the abductors were said to have called family members on Wednesday evening to table their demand. 
 
The source, however, did not give details about the response of the relatives.  Ahmadu and his family were kidnapped by gunmen on Tuesday at about 3a.m., at Filin Canada Quarters, located at the Kofar Kaura area in the state capital. 
 
The gunmen also killed a vigilante, who was patrolling the area on the day of the incident.  Spokesperson for the police command in the state, DSP Abubakar Aliyu, while confirming the abduction, said efforts were ongoing to track and arrest the perpetrators. 
 
He said: “On Tuesday, August 26th, 2025, at about 0300 hrs, some suspected gunmen armed with dangerous weapons attacked the residence of one Anas Ahmadu, aged 33, of Filin Canada Quarters, Katsina State, kidnapping him, his wife, and his daughter.
 
“Also, the hoodlums fatally shot one Abdullahi Muhammad, aged 25, of the same address, a member of the local vigilante, and escaped the scene before the arrival of police operatives.

“Upon receipt of the report, the DPO quickly rushed to the scene, restoring normalcy in the area, as investigation commenced with a view to tracking and arresting the perpetrators of the dastardly act.

“The Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Command, CP Bello Shehu, in company of the command management team, Area Commander Metro, DPOs within the metro, as well as the command OC Anti-Kidnapping, visited the scene for an on-the-spot assessment. “He then deployed additional personnel and assets to ensure the prompt rescue of the victims and arrest of the perpetrators.”

MEANWHILE, Governor Dikko Radda has explained why he abridged his medical leave.  He cited the security breach at Unguwan Mantau, in Malumfashi Local Council, which left more than 30 people dead. 
 
The governor, who stated this shortly after visiting the community, expressed deep concern over the incident. He had earlier travelled abroad on a three-week medical leave after he was involved in an accident along the Katsina-Daura highway some weeks ago. 
 
Radda was scheduled to resume office on September 5, but a statement by the House of Assembly said the governor requested his medical leave to be cut short, a demand unanimously granted by the lawmakers.   Speaking, the governor explained that what he saw in the community was heartbreaking. 

RELATEDLY, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede has assured that the military would strengthen operations to secure the state and the country at large.
 
He gave the assurance when he visited the Acting Governor, Faruk Lawal Jobe, at Government House, Katsina, to commiserate with the government and people of the state over the recent bandit attacks.
 
Oluyede said immediate and improved measures would be put in place to ensure such unfortunate incidents do not recur.   He appealed to the people to cooperate with security agencies in the collective effort to defeat bandits and make the Nigerian space safer for all citizens.
 
Responding, the acting governor thanked the COAS for the visit, assuring him that the state government will continue to support the Nigerian Army and other security agencies to secure the state.