Kidnappers of a 33-year-old man, Anas Ahmadu, his wife, and their little daughter have demanded a ransom of N600 million.
The family was abducted on Tuesday around 3 a.m. at Filin Canada Quarters, Kofar Kaura area of Katsina metropolis.
During the attack, the gunmen also killed a 25-year-old vigilante, Abdullahi Muhammad, who was on patrol.
Confirming the incident, spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Abubakar Aliyu, said efforts were ongoing to rescue the victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.
He noted that Commissioner of Police, Bello Shehu, had led senior officers to the scene and deployed additional personnel to reinforce security in the area.
Meanwhile, Governor Dikko Radda has cut short his medical leave abroad following worsening insecurity in the state.
The governor, who was due to resume office on September 5 after an accident along the Katsina-Daura highway, returned earlier to visit Unguwan Mantau in Malumfashi Local Council, where more than 30 people were recently killed in an attack.
Describing the situation as heartbreaking, Radda pledged to strengthen government support for security agencies in tackling banditry.
Similarly, Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, during a condolence visit to Government House, Katsina, assured that the military would intensify operations to secure the state and the country at large.
He urged residents to cooperate with security agencies to defeat bandits.
Acting Governor Faruk Lawal Jobe, who received the army chief, commended the military’s commitment and promised the state government’s continued support in restoring peace.