Sokoto: 32 hostages rescued as police repel bandits

From Shafa’atu Suleiman, Sokoto

Operatives of the Sokoto State Police Command have rescued 32 kidnap hostages and foiled a major bandit operation in Rabah Local Government Area of the state following a fierce gun battle with armed criminals.

The operation took place on Tuesday in Maikujera village, a remote community bordering Zamfara State.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufai, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Rabah received a distress call at about 8:30 a.m. that a large group of armed bandits had invaded the area, rustled livestock, and abducted several residents while shooting sporadically.

He said the DPO immediately mobilised tactical teams, including operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and the Violent Crime Reaction Unit (VCRU), in collaboration with the Nigerian Army’s Forward Operating Base (FOB), to intercept the fleeing bandits.

“The combined security team mounted strategic roadblocks and engaged the attackers in a prolonged gun duel.”

“Overpowered by the superior firepower of the security operatives, the bandits abandoned their captives and the stolen livestock before fleeing into a nearby forest,” he added.

He said security operatives launched a search of the surrounding bushes after the gun duel and successfully rescued all 32 kidnapped victims unharmed.

“The rescued victims comprise six adult males and 26 females, most of whom are children.”

According to the police, the victims have been evacuated to a safe location, where they are receiving medical attention and psychological support before being reunited with their families.

However, four residents were reportedly killed by the bandits during the initial attack before security operatives 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 were ongoing to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects.

He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to combating banditry and kidnapping across the state and urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements to the nearest security agency.