Police in Katsina State have rescued 11 passengers abducted by armed bandits along the Sheme-Kankara Road in Kankara Local Government Area.
The victims were travelling to Kano in a Toyota Hiace bus when the attackers stopped the vehicle at Kakumi Village on the night of May 18, 2026. According to the Katsina State Police Command, officers responded quickly after receiving a distress call and engaged the kidnappers in a gun battle.
Police spokesman Abubakar Sadiq said all 11 passengers were rescued unhurt. He added that intensive bush combing is ongoing to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects.
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In a separate operation the same evening, officers also recovered 25 cows stolen by suspected bandits in Badawa Village, Malumfashi. Patrol teams intercepted the suspects along their escape route and forced them to abandon the animals after another exchange of gunfire. The recovered cows have been returned to their owners.
Katsina Commissioner of Police, Ali Umar Fage, commended the officers for their swift response and assured residents that the command would sustain its fight against banditry and kidnapping across the state.
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