Police foil kidnapping in Kano, rescue community leader

The police have foiled a kidnapping attempt and rescued a community leader in the Garun Mallam Local Government Area of Kano State.

The police spokesperson in Kano, Haruna Kiyawa, in a statement, said the incident occurred on Saturday around 11:30 p.m. when suspected bandits invaded Garun Mallam town, shooting sporadically into the air to create panic.

During the attack, the gunmen abducted Yusif Nadabo, the traditional chief of the community, who holds the ‘Sarkin Noman Kano’ traditional title, and shot three young men identified as Yusif Nasiru (20), Salisu Garba (20), and Ibrahim Hassan (20), all residents of the community.

The police revealed that tactical and patrol teams, reinforced by officers from neighbouring divisions, were immediately deployed to the scene following a distress call.

“The police, working in close collaboration with community members, gave the hoodlums a hot chase,” Mr Kiyawa said.

“Faced with intense pressure, the bandits abandoned the victim and fled into the bush”, he added.

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The three injured victims were rushed to the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital for emergency medical treatment, while the rescued traditional leader was also taken for medical examination.

Mr Kiyawa added that the police state command has deployed confidence-building patrols in and around the town of Garun Mallam to prevent further security breaches. At the same time, a manhunt has been launched to track down the fleeing perpetrators.

Reacting to the successful operation, the statement said that Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Bakori praised the rapid response of the tactical units. He also commended the residents, local vigilantes, and Neighbourhood Watch members for their vigilance and brave support during the rescue effort.

The police urged members of the public to remain calm and continue providing credible information to assist in capturing the culprits.