In a span of four months, a total of 171 abducted individuals were successfully rescued in Katsina State, as reported by the state police command. The State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Abubakar Aliyu, representing Commissioner of Police Aliyu Musa, conveyed this information while parading some suspects at the police headquarters on Monday. Additionally, the police eliminated five suspected kidnappers between June 1 and September 30, 2023.

During the mentioned period, the command recovered four AK-47 rifles, six locally made guns, 517 live rounds of ammunition, more than 600 rustled animals, and 12 stolen vehicles and motorcycles. ASP Aliyu disclosed that 1,005 suspects were apprehended in connection with 853 reported cases, with 395 of these cases undergoing prosecution in various courts.

The breakdown of suspects includes 53 suspected armed robbers, 82 suspected kidnappers, 73 murder suspects, and 90 suspected rapists. A total of 707 suspects were arrested for various offenses such as criminal force, intimidation, possession of hard drugs or suspected Indian hemp, cultism, inciting disturbance, and affiliation with a gang of brigands, among others.

In a separate incident, unidentified gunmen abducted Anglican Church Pastor Rev. Agbadamashi Emmanuel, along with his family, while they were traveling from Ughelli to the Uwheru community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the State. The priest, his wife, and children were ambushed along the East-West road by Evwreni junction. The Public Relations Officer of the Anglican Communion, Ughelli Diocese, Hon. Justice Iyasere, confirmed the incident, stating that the abductors took them into the bush to an unknown destination. As of the report, the kidnappers had not made any ransom demands. The Police Public Relations Officer for Delta State Command, DSP Bright Edafe, was yet to confirm the incident at the time of reporting.