The Katsina State Police Command stopped a cattle rustling attempt and recovered 12 cows following a gunfight with suspected bandits in Bakori Local Government Area. The incident occurred late on June 2, 2026, after police received information at 11:00 p.m. that armed men had invaded Gidan Dan Maye village along the Gangaren Makurdi–Jargaba axis. The suspects had taken the cows and an unspecified number of sheep from local residents before fleeing.
Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Bakori Division led a team that worked with members of the Vigilante Group to track the suspects. The pursuit ended at the outskirts of Gidan Baushe village, where a gun battle broke out. The bandits fled into nearby bushes, leaving behind all the stolen livestock. Police reported that the suspects may have sustained gunshot wounds during the exchange.
DSP Abubakar Sadiq, Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the recovery of the animals and their return to owners. He stated that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects and dismantle their network. CP Ali Umar Fage, Commissioner of Police for Katsina State Command, praised the police and vigilantes for their actions. He urged residents to keep providing timely and credible information to aid anti-banditry operations.
The police recovered stolen cows only after the bandits had moved them across two villages, raising questions about response speed to the initial invasion. Residents lost livestock and faced danger before intervention occurred. The reliance on vigilantes again points to gaps in formal security presence in rural zones. This pattern leaves communities exposed until after crimes are already in motion.
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