Bandits Claim Life of Police Officer and Two Civilians in Katsina Attack

The Katsina State Police Command has confirmed the deaths of two civilians and a police officer at the hands of suspected armed bandits. The violence occurred on Sunday along the Karadua–Musawa Road, situated in the Matazu Local Government Area of the state.

Reports indicate that the assailants set up a blockade on the road and opened fire on a Volkswagen Golf vehicle as it passed by, resulting in the immediate deaths of two individuals inside.

Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, the police spokesperson for Katsina, validated the event in a statement released on Monday. He stated that security forces responded promptly to the attack after receiving a distress call. A coordinated team, comprising police personnel, military units, members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps, and local vigilantes, was dispatched to the scene.

According to Mr. Sadiq-Aliyu, the security operatives successfully engaged the attackers and managed to rescue the victims, transporting them to a nearby hospital.

However, the statement further detailed that the bandits later regrouped and launched a second offensive, this time targeting the Musawa Police Division. Officers on duty engaged the bandits in a severe exchange of gunfire, successfully thwarting their attempt to overrun the station. It was during this confrontation that one police officer sustained fatal injuries while defending the station.

In response to the escalating attacks, the Commissioner of Police, Ali Umar- Fage, announced that additional security resources have been deployed to the affected regions. These reinforcements aim to bolster security measures and prevent further incidents.

Commissioner Umar-Fage has also ordered a comprehensive investigation into the attacks to apprehend those responsible. He extended his condolences to the families of the civilians and the police officer who lost their lives. The commissioner lauded the fallen officer as a hero who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

He urged the public to maintain calm and continue to cooperate with security agencies by providing actionable intelligence, as efforts are intensified to bring the perpetrators to justice.