By Olaitan Ibrahim
In a dramatic late-night gun battle, police operatives in Katsina State have eliminated a notorious bandit, Audu Kushin, and rescued five kidnapped victims during a fierce exchange of fire that rocked Malumfashi Local Government Area.
The gunfight erupted around 10:15 p.m. on Thursday when heavily armed criminals stormed Unguwar Lado and Karo villages, sparking panic among residents.
Swiftly responding to a distress call, officers from the Malumfashi Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), engaged the attackers in a deadly duel.
Police spokesperson DSP Abubakar Aliyu confirmed in a statement on Saturday that the police successfully neutralised Kushin, a feared bandit from Tsamiyar Maigoro village.
“The officers’ rapid response and tactical engagement led to the killing of the bandit, Audu Kushin, and the rescue of five abducted victims,” Aliyu said.
Tragically, the assailants shot and wounded the kidnapped victims before fleeing. The injured were rushed to the General Hospital in Malumfashi, where they are receiving urgent medical care.
The spokesman assured the public that a manhunt is underway for the fleeing suspects, vowing that no stone would be left unturned in bringing them to justice.
Aliyu also appealed to citizens to stay vigilant and report suspicious activities, urging continued collaboration in the battle against banditry and criminality in Katsina.