The Sokoto State Police Command has rescued 32 kidnapped victims and disrupted a bandit operation in Rabah Local Government Area after a joint operation involving police tactical teams and the Nigerian Army.
The operation was carried out on Tuesday in Maikujera village, a remote community bordering Zamfara State, following a distress call received by the Divisional Police Officer in Rabah over an invasion by armed bandits.
According to the police spokesperson, DSP Ahmad Rufai, the attackers stormed the community while moving with rustled livestock and several abducted residents, shooting sporadically to scare inhabitants.
He said the DPO immediately mobilised tactical units, including the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and the Violent Crime Reaction Unit, while also coordinating with the Army’s Forward Operating Base to block possible escape routes.
The security operatives engaged the bandits in a gun battle, forcing them to abandon their captives and stolen livestock before escaping into the surrounding forest.
After the encounter, the troops and police personnel combed the area and rescued all 32 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 command, however, disclosed that four people were killed by the bandits during the initial attack before security forces arrived.
The Sokoto State Commissioner of Police, Hayatu Shaffa, expressed condolences to the families of the victims and assured residents that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing attackers.
“The Commissioner of Police extends his deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and assures the public that efforts are ongoing to track down the fleeing perpetrators,” the statement added.
Shaffa reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling banditry and kidnapping in the state, urging residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security agencies.
The rescue operation comes amid continued security efforts against armed bandits operating across Sokoto and neighbouring Zamfara State.
