The Katsina State Police Command has foiled a bandit attack in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area, rescuing four kidnapped victims, including a nursing baby, after a gun battle with the attackers.

According to the police, the incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday after a distress call was received over the abduction of three women from Makwanta Village in Dutsin-Ma.

The Divisional Police Officer reportedly mobilised police operatives who pursued the fleeing bandits towards the Dutsin-Ma–Danmusa border.

The operatives subsequently engaged the attackers in a gun duel. Police said the bandits were forced to retreat into the bush, with some of them believed to have sustained gunshot wounds.

The four victims were subsequently rescued unhurt.

Items reportedly recovered from the scene included an AK-47 rifle loaded with five rounds of live ammunition, a Tecno mobile phone, three MP3 players, a knife and three wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.

The Commissioner of Police in Katsina State, Ali Umar Fage, commended the officers involved in the operation and reiterated the command’s commitment to tackling banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes in the state.

Police spokesperson, DSP Abubakar Sadiq, said efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects.

The command also urged residents to continue providing credible and timely information that could assist security agencies in preventing attacks and apprehending criminal suspects.

The development comes amid renewed police operations against kidnapping and banditry in Katsina. On September 16, the command separately reported the rescue of two women abducted by suspected bandits in Kankia Local Government Area after police engaged the attackers in a gun battle.