Nab man for allegedly kidnapping child
The Katsina State Police Command has foiled the attempted kidnap of 30 persons by suspected bandits in the state.
While confirming the development in a statement yesterday, the spokesperson, ASP Abubakar Aliyu, said: “On August 20, at about 7:58 p.m., a distress call was received at the Malumfashi Divisional Headquarters that armed bandits in their numbers, wielding dangerous weapons, attacked Yaba village in Malumfashi Local Council, kidnapped 20 persons and rustled five cows.
“Upon receipt of the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Malumfashi, marshalled a team of operatives and responded. They intercepted the hoodlums at the outskirts of the village while trying to escape with their victims.
“The team engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel and succeeded in foiling the attack, rescuing all the kidnapped victims and recovering the rustled animals. The hoodlums, however, escaped the scene with bullet wounds.”
Also, he said that on August 21, police operatives raided a bandits’ hideout situated between Dutsinma and Safana Local Councils, where they rescued seven hostages kidnapped from two villages in Dutsinma Council on August 17 and recovered one AK-47 rifle.
“The intelligence-led operation, conducted by a combined team of police operatives attached to Dutsinma Police Divisional Headquarters and members of the vigilante, led by the DPO, CSP Bello Abdullahi Gusau, was carried out at about 1:30 a.m.
“The rescued hostages, who were kidnapped from Farar Kasa and Shanga villages in Dutsinma Council, were successfully rescued unharmed and rushed to the nearest hospital for medical attention. Also, one AK-47 rifle was recovered during the operation,” he said.”
The spokesperson said a distress call at about 5:00 a.m. the same day was also received at the Jibia Divisional Police Headquarters that armed bandits attacked Jibian Maje, Nasarawa, and Lankwasau villages in Jibia Council.
Upon receipt of the report, he said, the DPO in Jibia mobilised personnel and engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel.
According to him, the officers foiled the attacks and rescued three kidnapped victims.
Also, the Katsina State Police Command has arrested one Halilu Yusuf, 21, for allegedly kidnapping a six-year-old boy.
The police spokesperson in the state, ASP Abubakar Aliyu, disclosed this while briefing reporters in Katsina.
He said: “On August 17, at about 2:00 p.m., based on credible intelligence, the command arrested Halilu Yusuf, 21, of Gezawa, via Shinkafi village, in connection with a suspected case of kidnapping a six-year-old.”
He said the suspect lured and kidnapped the victim from Kofar-Sauri quarters. The victim is the son of his mentor. Yusuf demanded a N2 million ransom from the father.
Aliyu revealed that the suspect slept with the boy in his room, after which he took him to another place for safekeeping, not knowing that police operatives had been trailing him.
The spokesperson explained that the suspect made an anonymous phone call and informed the father of his son’s abduction.
“Upon receipt of the report, the command quickly mobilised its operatives led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Government Reserved Area (GRA), Katsina, and swung into action. The team successfully traced and arrested the suspect, and the victim was rescued unhurt,” he said.
He said the suspect confessed the commission of the offence. He added that Yusuf would be charged in court after the completion of investigations.
