By HAMISU HUSSAINI

The Katsina State Police Command says its operatives have foiled a kidnap attempt and rescued seven victims along the Kankara-Dutsin-Ma road in Kankara Local Government Area of the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Aliyu, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Katsina on Thursday.

Aliyu said the incident occurred at about 9:45 p.m. on September 21, near Unguwar Kanawa-Dantudu village.

He said the victims, comprising a driver and six passengers, were travelling from Kaduna State to Dutsin-Ma when suspected armed bandits blocked the road and intercepted their vehicle (Volkswagen Golf 3).

He said upon receiving a distress call, the Divisional Police Officer in Kankara led operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit to the scene, where they engaged the suspects in a gun duel.

According to him, the operatives’ intervention forced the suspects to flee, leading to the successful rescue of all seven occupants of the vehicle.

Aliyu identified the victims as Sani Umar, 35, the driver; Emmanuela Anyaba, 20; Regina Felix, 19; Peace Joseph, 23; Mercy Michael, 19; Maryam Salisu, 21; and Nafisa Yakubu, 18.

He said the victims were taken to a hospital for medical evaluation and were certified stable before being discharged and reunited with their families.

The PPRO also said efforts were ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects.

He quoted the Commissioner of Police, CP Ali Umar-Fage, as commending the operatives for their prompt response and gallantry.

Umar-Fage assured residents of the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, while urging members of the public to provide timely and credible information to the police to support efforts against crime and criminality in the state. (NAN)