Police fight bandits in Katsina, kill seven and foil attack on the community

The Katsina State Police Command said its operatives successfully foiled an attack by bandits on Ruwan Doruwa village in Dutsinma local government area of Katsina State.

Police said seven suspected bandits were killed in the operation, while 61 cows, 44 sheep, two donkeys, a goat and a dog were recovered.

Katsina police spokesperson Sadiq Abubakar said in a statement that the incident occurred on Saturday at around 9am.

He said a distress call was received at the Dutsinma Divisional Police Headquarters stating that some suspected bandits, armed with dangerous weapons such as AK-47 rifles, had attacked Ruwan Doruwa village.

Following the complaint, the police mobilized other security agencies and security guards and promptly visited the location.

Upon arrival, the team engaged in a violent shootout with the bandits, which resulted in the death of seven of them, while the others fled the scene with various injuries, abandoning all the animals suspected of rustling.

Abubakar said the Commissioner of Police in Katsina, Aliyu Musa, commended the police officers for their bravery, valor and professionalism. He reiterated the command's commitment to ensuring the safety of members of the public.

The police chief appealed to the public to continue to support the command by providing timely and useful information that will assist the command in the ongoing fight against all forms of crime and criminality in the state.

Katsina is one of the northwestern states most affected by banditry in Nigeria. Thousands of people have been killed, kidnapped or displaced in recent years by bandits who operate mainly in rural areas of the state.