TheCable

The Katsina police command says its officers repelled attacks by suspected terrorists in Dadawa and Barkiya villages, Kurfi LGA of the state.

The terrorists were said to have attacked the villages simultaneously at about 1:30am on Monday. 

Gambo Isah, the command’s spokesperson, said many of the terrorists are feared to have been killed while others may have been wounded. 

He said police had received a distress call about the movement of the the terrorists, numbering eighty on motorbikes, and who were armed with sophisticated weapons. 

“On receipt of the information, the Command deployed its tactical teams to the area and engaged the hoodlums into a fierce gun duel. The team successfully repelled the terrorists and recovered seventy-four (74) Sheep, thirty-four (34) Goats and two (2) cows,” he said in a statement. 

“Many terrorists are feared to have been killed and/or fatally wounded during the encounter.  A team of policemen are still combing the area with a view to arresting the wounded terrorists and/or recover their dead bodies.

“The Commissioner of Police, Katsina state Command, CP Idrisu Dabban Dauda, psc+, fdc, appreciated the efforts of the personnel in repelling the terrorists.  He also urges members of the public to continue to cooperate with security agencies in the ongoing campaign against terrorists in the state.” 

In May, a police team from the command had also repelled an attack in Malumfashi, where the gunmen were said to have rustled five cows. 

Also in separate operations on March 5, the command raided hideouts of suspected gunmen at Yellawa, Hakin-Biri, Danmusa LGA, and Safana LGA.

Katsina has been one of the worst hit states by the gunmen. 

In recent weeks, however, security operatives have sustained offensives against the gunmen.