Police Foil Bandit Operation in Sokoto, Rescue 32 Kidnapped Victims

The Sokoto State Police Command has rescued 32 kidnapped victims and thwarted a major bandit operation in Maikujera Village, Rabah Local Government Area, following a coordinated security operation involving the police and the Nigerian Army.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufai, the operation was launched after the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Rabah received a distress call at about 8:30 a.m. reporting that a large group of armed bandits had invaded the community.

The statement said the attackers, who were moving with rustled livestock and several abducted victims, fired sporadically at residents while attempting to escape through the area bordering Zamfara State.

In response, the DPO mobilized tactical teams, including 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.

Security operatives engaged the bandits in a prolonged gun battle, forcing them to abandon the kidnapped victims and stolen livestock before fleeing into the forest.

Following the operation, security personnel combed nearby bushes and surrounding areas, successfully rescuing all 32 victims unharmed.

The rescued victims comprise six adult males and 26 females, most of whom are children. They have been evacuated to a safe location where they are receiving medical attention and psychological support before being reunited with their families.

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

Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Sokoto State, CP Hayatu Hassan Shaffa, expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and assured residents that efforts are underway to track down and apprehend the fleeing suspects.

The command reaffirmed its commitment to combating banditry and kidnapping across the state and urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements or activities to the nearest security agency.