A police constable and two civilians have been kidnapped by armed bandits along the Danmusa–Yantumaki road in Katsina State, raising fresh concerns about growing insecurity in the region.
The abducted officer, identified as Constable Nura Ibrahim (F/No 545490), was attached to the Danmusa Police Division. He was traveling with two others in a civilian vehicle when they were ambushed by the assailants near Yantumaki Forest on Tuesday evening.
According to local security and intelligence sources, the victims were riding in a Navy Blue Volkswagen Golf vehicle with registration number DMS 238 when the attackers struck. The gunmen, believed to be bandits operating in the area, stopped the vehicle and forcibly led all three occupants into the nearby forest.
Witnesses and residents of the area say the attack occurred around dusk, a time when many travelers begin to rush to safer zones due to the high rate of criminal activity on rural roads.
Security operatives have since launched a joint search and rescue operation in an attempt to locate and rescue the kidnapped victims. The operation involves the Nigerian Police Force, local vigilante groups, and other sister security agencies combing through the dense forest area.
The abandoned vehicle was later recovered by authorities and moved to the Yantumaki Police Outpost for further investigation.
Local residents say the Danmusa–Yantumaki road, which connects several rural communities in Katsina, has become increasingly dangerous over the past few years. Bandits frequently patrol the route, attacking travelers and forcing villagers to pay illegal tolls or risk abduction.
Yantumaki, located in Danmusa Local Government Area, has long been a hotspot for bandit activity due to its proximity to forested terrain, which serves as a safe haven for criminals fleeing from security forces.
Over the past few months, Katsina State has witnessed a surge in banditry, kidnappings, and attacks on both civilians and security personnel. Several communities have reported mass abductions, extortion, and destruction of farmlands.
In response, the state government and security agencies have launched various joint operations aimed at clearing out criminal hideouts in forests like Rugu and Yantumaki, which stretch across parts of Katsina, Zamfara, and Kaduna States.
However, many locals believe more needs to be done to tackle the root causes of insecurity, including poverty, lack of access to education, and the proliferation of illegal arms.
The kidnapping of a serving police officer adds a new layer of concern, showing that even trained security personnel are not spared from the wave of violence sweeping across northern Nigeria.
Meanwhile, residents of Danmusa and surrounding communities are living in fear as the search for the abducted victims continues. Some have called on the federal and state governments to deploy more troops to vulnerable areas and improve road safety.
“The road is now a death trap. We no longer feel safe traveling to the next town. Even the police are not safe. What hope do ordinary people have?” asked a resident, who identified himself as Malam Salisu.
In recent years, Nigeria’s northwest region has been plagued by increasing incidents of banditry, with thousands of people killed, kidnapped, or displaced from their homes. The federal government has designated bandit groups as terrorists and vowed to treat them as such under Nigerian law.
In 2022, the Nigerian Air Force carried out several airstrikes on known bandit camps in Katsina and Zamfara States. While those operations led to the death of several key commanders, many bandit groups continue to regroup and launch attacks on remote villages and travelers.
The kidnapping of Constable Nura Ibrahim and the two others is yet another grim reminder of the insecurity that continues to haunt the region, despite ongoing efforts by security forces.
As the manhunt continues in Yantumaki Forest, families of the victims remain hopeful for their safe return. Meanwhile, Nigerians are once again calling on the government to double down on its commitment to restoring peace and order in the country.
