At least 15 people were rescued from suspected human traffickers by the Katsina State Police Command.
In a statement by the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Gambo Isah, on Saturday, the victims were being conveyed to the Niger Republic, and possibly from there to Libya when the police intercepted the suspects around 3.30 a.m. on Friday.
Isah was quoted by Daily Post as saying, “the police in Katsina have rescued 15 victims of human trafficking at Baraji Quarters, Daura LGA, who were being conveyed to the Niger Republic, and possibly from there to Libya.”
According to him, when the culprits saw the police, they abandoned the victims.
He said the eight female victims and seven males, who were lured from the southern part of the country with fake promises of greener pasture in Libya, were rescued.
He concluded that the team also recovered the abandoned Golf III Wagon, as efforts are on to arrest the fleeing suspects.
Meanwhile, the police killed one bandit and recovered 50 rustled cows belonging to Alhaji Ibrahim Maikudi of Gago village, Dutsinma LGA.
He said the command received a distress call around 10 a.m., that 40 terrorists were attacking the community and were about to rustle cows.
Isah said the Area Commander in charge of Dutsinma mobilised operatives to the area and engaged the bandits in a gun duel, leading to the killing of one bandit, while others were repelled.
He narrated that the terrorists abandoned their mission and fled with gunshot wounds, just as the operatives recovered one AK47 rifle, with five rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and all the fifty (50) rustled cows.
He further disclosed that the operatives were searching the bush for the fleeing bandits.
