The Katsina State Police Command has dismissed reports alleging that armed bandits blocked the Katsina-Kano Highway at Gidan Mutum Daya in Kusada Local Government Area, describing the claims as false and misleading. The Command clarified that the incident involved a security operation that resulted in the arrest of two suspected bandits and the recovery of more than 150 suspected rustled livestock.
In a press release issued on Friday, October 16 2026, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu said the report circulating on social media misrepresented the circumstances surrounding the operation and had the potential to generate unnecessary public anxiety.
According to the statement, members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps (KSCWC) and local vigilantes, acting on actionable intelligence during a routine patrol, arrested two suspects at Gidan Mutum Daya on Thursday, October 15.
The suspects were identified as Abdulkadir Umar and Suleiman Baiti. The police said preliminary interrogation indicated that both suspects confessed to belonging to a syndicate of armed bandits allegedly terrorising parts of Katsina State.
Following the arrests, police operatives attached to the Kusada Division led by the Divisional Police Officer mobilised alongside members of the Community Watch Corps and local vigilantes to a location identified by the suspects.
The operation, conducted on the same day led to the recovery of more than 150 suspected rustled livestock, comprising cattle, goats and sheep. The animals were subsequently moved to a secure facility while investigations continued into the circumstances of the suspected livestock theft.
The Command explained that the temporary disruption to traffic on the Katsina-Kano Highway occurred during the movement of the recovered animals across the road. Security operatives briefly halted vehicular movement to ensure the safe passage of the large herd before normal traffic flow was restored.
It emphasised that the temporary traffic interruption was a security and safety measure and had no connection with any attack or road blockade by armed bandits. The police consequently urged the public to distinguish between the security operation and the misleading account circulating online.
The Command categorically stated that there was no bandit attack, criminal blockade or threat to commuters during the incident, dismissing the viral report as entirely unfounded.
The Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Command CP Ali Umar Fage commended the personnel involved for their prompt response, effective coordination and collaboration in the operation which led to the arrest of the suspects and recovery of the livestock.
He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to strengthening cooperation among the police, the Community Watch Corps and local vigilantes to tackle criminal activities, recover stolen property and sustain security across the state.
The Commissioner also reassured motorists and other road users that the Katsina-Kano Highway remained safe, secure and fully motorable urging commuters not to allow unverified social media reports to disrupt their movements or create unnecessary fear.
The police said investigations into the case were ongoing and that further information would be made available as developments emerged.
The Command advised members of the public to verify security related information through credible official sources before sharing it, warning against the circulation of unsubstantiated reports capable of causing panic and undermining public confidence in security operations.
