Police Rescue Nine Kidnap Victims After Bandits Block Katsina Highway

Police in Katsina State have rescued nine passengers after suspected bandits blocked the Katsina-Kankara highway and abducted occupants of a commercial vehicle.

Channels TV and PM News reported that the incident happened around Tashar Kanya Village in Kankara Local Government Area after armed men intercepted a red Volkswagen Golf travelling from Dandume to Katsina.

The vehicle was reportedly carrying 11 passengers when the attackers forced the occupants away from the road and attempted to move them into the bush.

According to the reports, a distress call prompted the Divisional Police Officer in Kankara to mobilise a combined team of operatives, including personnel from the Violent Crime Rescue Unit.

The police team engaged the attackers in a gun battle and forced them to flee, abandoning several of the victims. A search of the area led to the rescue of nine passengers, all said to be unharmed.

The command said efforts were still underway to locate and rescue the remaining two victims. Security operatives were also said to be tracking the fleeing suspects.

Kankara and other parts of Katsina have faced repeated attacks on roads and rural communities, with commuters often targeted by armed groups seeking ransom payments.

The latest rescue comes on the same day other security agencies reported separate operations in the North-West and North-East, underlining the scale of pressure on security forces across the region.

Sources: Channels TV, PM News