KATSINA: Three bandits killed, AK47 rifles recovered during gun duel at Mararabar-Gurbi

THE Kankara Divisional Police office recorded remarkable feats in his efforts to rid the state of banditry and allied criminality when its operatives killed three bandits in the early hours of yesterday and also apprehended masterminds of previous kidnapping incidents.

The bandits were killed during a gun duel with a team of police officers at Mararabar-Gurbi in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.

It was learnt that bandits were sighted along a cattle route in the area with some rustled domestic animals around 4 am.

The spokesman for the state Police Command, Gambo Isah, who confirmed the incident, said, “The hoodlums were intercepted and on sighting the police operatives; they engaged them in a gun duel, as a result of which three bandits were neutralised while others fled into the forest with possible gunshots wounds.”

Isah also disclosed that one AK-49 Assault rifle, 170 sheep and two motorcycles were recovered from the bandits.

Meanwhile, the police have also arrested two bandits, who allegedly mastermind the recent murder of one Alhaji Ibrahim Kwatahi of Jar- Garba village in Bakori Local Government Area of the state.

Isah who confirmed the development gave the names of the arrested suspects as Buhari Yusuf (25), and Usman Bammi (30), both of Unguwar Mai Kawo village, Kafur Local Government Area.

The police spokesman said, “On 18/04/2021 at about 08:30 hrs, based on credible intelligence, O/C Anti-Kidnapping Unit led a combined team of police operatives and vigilante group to Unguwar Mai Kawo forest, Bakori LGA, and raided bandits’ hideout which led to the arrest of the duo of Buhari Yusuf and Usman Bammi, the notorious bandits that mastermind the killing of one Alhaji Ibrahim Fatahi of Jar- Garba villag, Bakori.”

The police also recovered two AK-47 rifles which the suspects reportedly confessed belonged to a member of the gang, one Babangida (now at large).

In a similar development, a 40-year-old man, one Ibrahim Ma’aruf, alleged to be an arms dealer was also arrested on Saturday.