Police foil major bandit operation, rescue 32 victims in Sokoto

The Sokoto State Police Command, in collaboration with the military, has rescued 32 kidnapped victims and foiled a major bandit operation in Rabah Local Government Area of the state following a coordinated security operation.

The command disclosed that the operation was carried out on Tuesday in Maikujera village, a remote community bordering Zamfara State, after the Divisional Police Officer in Rabah received intelligence that a large group of armed bandits had invaded the area.

In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufai, the command said the attackers were moving with rustled livestock and dozens of abducted victims while firing sporadically at residents.

According to the statement, the Divisional Police Officer immediately deployed tactical teams, including operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and the Violent Crime Reaction Unit (VCRU), and coordinated with the Nigerian Army’s Forward Operating Base (FOB) to block all possible escape routes.

The joint security team engaged the bandits in a fierce gun battle, forcing them to abandon the kidnapped victims and stolen livestock before fleeing into the surrounding forest.

Following the operation, security personnel searched the nearby bushes and successfully rescued all 32 kidnapped victims.

“The rescued victims comprise six adult males and 26 females, the majority of whom are children. They have been evacuated to a safe location, where they are receiving medical and psychological support and will be reunited with their families shortly,” Rufai said.

The police, however, disclosed that four people were killed by the bandits during the initial attack before security operatives arrived at the scene.

The command said the Commissioner of Police in Sokoto State, Hayatu Shaffa, expressed sympathy to the families of the deceased and assured residents that those responsible for the attack would be brought to justice.

He also reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling banditry and kidnapping across the state and urged residents to remain vigilant by reporting suspicious individuals or movements to the nearest security agency.