Security operatives, kidnappers in gun battle in Katsina: Businessman shot

By Abbas Bamalli

A businessman was shot as Police, Army and vigilance group operatives foiled a bid by bandits to kidnap residents of Tijjani Malumfashi Housing Estate in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State after a gun battle lasting over one hour on Saturday.

The bandits said to be about 50 had invaded the housing estate in an attempt to kidnap some of the residents at about 11 p.m.

A resident of the estate said the bandits immediately began to shoot into the air and divided themselves into different groups, going from house to house to bring out the people they wanted to take away.

However, their efforts were frustrated by the intervention of security operatives who were quickly alerted.

He added that the arrival of security operatives saved the residents, including a judge, from being taken away by the gunmen.

The resident also said the assailants had brought at least six people out of their residences, and tied and blindfolded them before the arrival of the security personnel.

“The Divisional Police Officer at Malumfashi, alongside a team of policemen, troops of the Nigerian Army and members of the vigilance group successfully repelled the attack.

“There was a heavy exchange of gunfire between the kidnappers and the security personnel for more than one hour before the gunmen fled.

“The gunmen shot one of the would-have-been kidnap victims, a prominent businessman who is currently receiving treatment at the General Hospital, Kwandala Malumfashi,’’ the resident said.

A police spokesman in Katsina State, ASP Aliyu Abubakar-Sadiq, confirmed the incident, saying the investigation was ongoing.

“We are aware of the incident and an investigation has started. The outcome of the investigation would be made public,’’ he assured.

(NAN) )