The Katsina State Police Command has confirmed the abduction and subsequent partial rescue of passengers from a bus operated by the Katsina State Transport Authority (KSTA). The incident occurred when the bus, en route from Katsina to Funtua, was attacked by armed bandits in the Kankara Local Government Area (LGA) on Thursday, March 21, 2024.
According to ASP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, the spokesperson for the Katsina Command, 18 passengers were initially kidnapped during the assault. However, a joint effort from the Katsina State Police, the Nigerian Military, and the Katsina State Community Watch Corps led to the successful rescue of 14 of the abducted individuals after a fierce gun battle with the perpetrators.
The attack took place around 12:30 pm along the Mararaban Kankara highway at Gidan Kifi village, where the armed bandits, wielding AK-47 rifles, overpowered the KSTA bus. The driver, identified as Dabo Filalawa of Filin Polo Quarters, Katsina State, and the passengers were taken captive by the bandits.
In response to the report, a joint team of Police operatives attached to Kankara Divisional Police Headquarters, Military, and members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps swiftly mobilized and engaged the hoodlums in a fierce gun duel, successfully rescuing fourteen kidnapped victims.
Efforts are underway to ensure the safe return of the remaining four abductees, with the police expressing optimism about their unhurt rescue. The public has been urged to provide any information that might assist in the ongoing operations, promising confidentiality and stressing the importance of community cooperation. The statement reiterated that “The safety and security of Katsina residents are our top priority.