300 stolen animals recovered after Katsina gun battle

A combined team of police operatives in Katsina State and vigilantes on Saturday evening engaged bandits in a three-hour gun duel in villages in three local government areas of the state.

It was gathered that no fewer than 300 domestic animals earlier rustled by the bandits were recovered.

According to the police, the bloody encounter took place from 5 pm to 8 pm on Saturday at Safana, Kurfi and Dutsin-ma local government areas of the state.

It was learnt that the bandits numbering over 40 and riding on motorcycles had stormed villages in the three councils where they rustled the animals.

The spokesman for the Katsina Police Command, Gambo Isah, who confirmed the incident on Sunday, said a police team and members of the vigilante in the areas blocked the exit routes of the bandits between Dagarawa and Tsaskiya cattle route where they prevented them (bandits) from returning to the forest with the rustled animals.

The police spokesman said, “A combined team of policemen and vigilante group were mobilised and blocked the hoodlums at their exit route into the forest between Dagarawa to Tsaskiya cattle route, engaged them in fierce gun duel and recovered all the cows, sheep and goats.“Many bandits were suspected to have fled with bullet wounds. Search parties are still combing the area with a view to arresting the fleeing bandits or to recover their dead bodies and their operational weapons.”