RismadarVoice Reporters
September 25, 2026
Police operatives in Katsina State have foiled a suspected kidnapping attempt and rescued seven travellers after engaging armed suspects in a gun battle along the Kankara-Dutsin-Ma road.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Aliyu, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, saying the incident occurred at about 9:45 p.m. on September 21 near Unguwar Kanawa-Dantudu in Kankara Local Government Area.
Aliyu 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 Volkswagen Golf 3.
Following a distress call, the Divisional Police Officer in Kankara reportedly led operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit to the scene.
Police said the operatives engaged the suspects in a gun battle, forcing them to flee and enabling the 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.
The rescued travellers were taken to a hospital for medical evaluation, where they were certified stable before being discharged and reunited with their families.
Aliyu said efforts were continuing to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects.
Commissioner of Police Ali Umar-Fage commended the officers involved for their response to the incident and reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property.
He also urged residents to provide timely and credible information to security agencies to assist ongoing efforts against crime across the state.
