The Katsina State Police Command has denied reports circulating on social media alleging that villagers and bandits in Safana Local Government Area engaged in a hostage-swap arrangement.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Aliyu, said in a statement on Friday that the reports suggesting that residents of Babban Duhu, Sabon Birni, and Babanli abducted relatives of bandits in retaliation for earlier kidnappings were “baseless, false, and malicious.”

Aliyu said the rumour appeared to originate from claims that bandits had kidnapped some villagers from the listed communities, prompting the supposed retaliation.

He said investigations had shown that “no such incident occurred in Babban Duhu, Sabon Birni, or Babanli.”

He added that a multi-layered inquiry involving intelligence checks and consultations with community leaders had found no evidence of any hostage exchange.

“The command, therefore, wishes to state in the strongest terms that those rumours are baseless, false, and malicious.

“A thorough investigation, including intelligence verification and coordination with community leaders, has found no evidence of any hostage exchange between bandits and villagers in Babban Duhu, Sabon Birni, or Babanli.

“The spread of such misinformation is dangerous, as it inflames public fear, erodes trust in institutions, and could endanger lives,” he said.

Aliyu urged residents to remain calm, avoid sharing unverified information, and report credible intelligence to the police through designated emergency numbers.

He reiterated that the Command remained committed to protecting lives and property in the state.

In August 2025, bandits abducted a man, identified as Anas Ahmed, alongside his wife, Halimatu, and their young daughter in Katsina State’s metropolitan area.

The attack occurred around 3:00 in the morning at Filin Kanana community, located in Sabuwar Unguwa, Kofar Kaura, within the state capital.

The bandits were reported to have shot and killed a local security guard who was on night patrol when the incident took place.

The development was said to have sparked palpable tension among residents, who expressed growing fears that criminal groups are becoming emboldened to invade the heart of the state capital with impunity.

Some residents who spoke on the incident called on both the federal and state governments to take urgent action to address the worsening insecurity and safeguard lives and property.

The kidnap incident comes just days after daredevil bandits stormed Unguwan Mantau community in Malumfashi Local Government Area (LGA), where they killed over 40 worshippers inside a mosque.