A late-night police operation targeting street-level drug trafficking in Katsina has resulted in the death of a drug kingpin believed to be linked to a local criminal gang, security sources confirmed.
According to the account, the operation followed actionable intelligence pointing to an active drug distribution hub within a densely populated neighbourhood.
Officers moved in quietly, aiming to make a clean arrest without alerting surrounding accomplices.
However, the situation escalated shortly after the suspect was confronted.
Police sources said the individual resisted arrest and raised an alarm that quickly drew the attention of other gang members operating nearby.
A senior officer familiar with the incident said the team came under sudden attack.
“The suspect’s associates attempted to disrupt the operation by throwing stones at the patrol vehicle, damaging parts of it and creating panic,” the source explained.
In the confusion, the suspect allegedly produced a sharp object and stabbed a senior member of the surveillance unit in the neck, forcing officers to respond defensively to prevent further harm.
During the confrontation, a police officer discharged his weapon, critically injuring the suspect.
He was immediately taken for medical attention but was later pronounced dead by doctors.
The incident occurred on December 27, 2025, at about 10 p.m., in Sabuwar Anguwa, within the Katsina Local Government Area of Katsina State, during a raid led by the Central Market Surveillance Team.
Recovered items at the scene included substances suspected to be Indian hemp, Colorado, and prescription drugs believed to be abused, alongside the weapon allegedly used in the attack.
Police said the exhibits have been documented for further investigation.
Meanwhile, the injured officer is receiving treatment, with authorities describing his condition as stable.
“Our personnel acted within the confines of the law to protect lives, including their own,” a police source said.
The body of the deceased has since been released to his family for burial, in line with standard procedure.
Police investigators are now working to identify and arrest other members of the gang who fled the scene.
Other security agencies have also stepped up surveillance across known drug hotspots in the state, warning that criminal networks exploiting urban communities will continue to face sustained pressure from law enforcement.