Police foil kidnap attempt, rescue six FUDMA students and driver in Katsina
By: Zagazola Makama
The Katsina State Police Command has foiled a kidnap attempt and rescued six students of the Federal University Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA) and their driver after armed bandits intercepted their vehicle along the Kankara-Dutsin-Ma road.
Zagazola Makama reports that the incident occurred at about 9:45 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 21, around Unguwar Kanawa-Dantudu Village, when the armed bandits reportedly blocked the road and intercepted a Volkswagen Golf 3 with registration number BCH 58 SB.
The vehicle was driven by 35-year-old Sani Umar of Dutsin-Ma and was conveying the six female students from Kaduna to Dutsin-Ma.
Following a distress call, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Kankara, led personnel of the Police Violent Crimes Response Unit (VCRU) to the scene.
The police engaged the bandits in a fierce gun battle, forcing the attackers to flee into the surrounding bush with varying degrees of gunshot injuries.
The area was subsequently cordoned off while security personnel conducted clearance operations.
The seven occupants were eventually traced and rescued unhurt.
They were identified as Sani Umar, the driver, and six FUDMA students: Emmanuela Anyaba, 20; Regina Felix, 19; Peace Joseph, 23; Mercy Michael, 19; Maryam Salisu, 21; and Nafisa Yakubu, 18.
The victims were taken to Kankara General Hospital for medical evaluation and were subsequently discharged.
The six students were handed over to the Chief Security Officer of FUDMA, while the driver was handed over to officials of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
The police said efforts were ongoing to track down and apprehend the fleeing perpetrators.
