Operatives of the Katsina State Police Command have successfully neutralized a 22-year-old suspected gunrunner and kidnapper identified as Nazifi Ibrahim in Yankara village of Faskari Local Government Area of the state.

According to a statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu on Saturday, the raid on the suspect’s enclave in a farm in Yankara village resulted in a fierce gun battle.

The operatives, in response, neutralized Nazifi Ibrahim and recovered significant items from the scene.

“On November 11th, 2023, at about 0330hrs, based on a tip-off on the activities of some suspected kidnappers wielding dangerous weapons such as AK 47 rifles, in a farm situated at the outskirt of Yankara village, Faskari LGA, Katsina State.”

“Upon receipt of the report, the DPO Faskari promptly mobilized a joint team of police operatives, members of the vigilante, and officers of the Katsina Community Security Watch Corps and responded to the scene.”

“Upon noticing the presence of the operatives, the suspected kidnappers opened fire on the operatives, to which the officers valiantly returned fire, forcing the terrorists to abandon their evil plan and flee into the nearby bush,” Aliyu stated.

During the operation, many other criminals managed to escape with various degrees of gunshot injuries.

Aliyu said, “The operatives recovered 185 live rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 90 live rounds of 5.56mm, M193 type 06 ammunition, and 13 Ak-47 magazines neatly concealed in a sack bag after a fierce gun battle with the criminals.”

The body of the neutralized suspect, Nazifi Ibrahim, has been identified, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects as the investigation proceeds.