The Commissioner of Police in Katsina State, Ali Umar-Fage, has ordered an aggressive manhunt for armed bandits responsible for a deadly reprisal attack on several communities in Kankia Local Government Area.
The directive follows a series of security operations that had initially recorded significant successes against criminal elements in the area before the latest assault.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, the commissioner highlighted recent achievements by security operatives. According to him, officers foiled a cattle rustling attempt on April 29 in Gadar Yan Tulu and Kartaka villages, recovering a total of 205 livestock, including 91 cows and 114 sheep.
Security forces also repelled another attack on Matinjin village on Saturday, forcing several bandits to flee with gunshot wounds. Eight motorcycles believed to be linked to the attackers were recovered during the operation.
However, the situation escalated on Sunday when the bandits regrouped and launched coordinated attacks on Jeka da Kolo and Kwalgoro villages around midday. The assault resulted in the deaths of 11 residents before tactical teams were deployed to confront the attackers.
Describing the incident as “cowardly and barbaric,” Umar-Fage extended condolences to the families of the victims and assured the public that those responsible would be brought to justice.
He confirmed that additional tactical units have been deployed to the affected communities, while bush combing operations and coordinated patrols are ongoing to track down fleeing suspects.
The police commissioner reaffirmed the command’s commitment to restoring peace and security across the state, emphasizing that efforts would continue until normalcy is fully achieved.
Residents were urged to remain calm, stay vigilant, and provide credible intelligence to security agencies as investigations progress. Authorities also assured that further updates would be communicated as developments unfold.
