Security operatives in Sokoto State have foiled two separate bandit attacks in Shagari and Rabah local government areas (LGAs), forcing the attackers to abandon a total of 452 rustled domestic animals after gun battles with a joint security team.
The attacks, which occurred on Tuesday evening, targeted Horo Birni and Marake villages in Shagari LGA as well as Maikujera village, a remote settlement in Rabah LGA.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Ahmad Rufa”i, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday.
According to him, at about 7:20 p.m. on Tuesday, armed bandits in large numbers attacked Horo Birni and Marake villages in Shagari LGA, firing sporadically before rustling an unspecified number of domestic animals.
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He said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Shagari mobilised all tactical teams, including operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, the Village Community Response Unit (VCRU) and personnel of the Military Forward Operating Base (FOB), who engaged the attackers in a gun battle.
“The hoodlums were overpowered and escaped through a nearby forest, abandoning all the rustled animals,” the statement said.
Police said security operatives recovered 195 cows, 84 sheep and two camels during the operation.
The command added that two villagers sustained gunshot wounds during the attack and were rushed to hospital for treatment.
Rufa”i said that in a similar incident at about 8:10 p.m. on Tuesday, armed bandits attacked Maikujera village, a remote hamlet in Rabah LGA, shooting sporadically before rustling 171 domestic animals, including camels, cows, sheep and goats.
He said the DPO, who was already on alert, immediately mobilised all tactical teams, including the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and the VCRU, blocked the exit routes from the village and engaged the bandits in another gun battle.
According to the statement, the bandits were overpowered and fled through a nearby forest, abandoning all 171 rustled animals, which were subsequently recovered.
The Commissioner of Police, Sokoto State Command, Hayatu Hassan Shaffa, commended the DPOs, tactical teams, VCRU operatives and the military for their swift response and professionalism, saying their actions foiled the attacks and ensured the recovery of all the rustled animals without any loss of life among security personnel or villagers.
He urged residents to continue cooperating with security agencies by promptly reporting suspicious activities, assuring that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing bandits and sustain the fight against criminality across the state.
