Police Stop Bandits, Recover 11 Stolen Cattle in Sokoto

The Sokoto State Police Command has stopped a bandit attack in Tangaza Local Government Area. They recovered 11 stolen cattle and arrested several suspects linked to burglary and motorcycle theft in different operations across the state.

The police said the operations involved personnel from the Tangaza Division, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, the Village Crime Reduction Unit, and the Strike Force. This shows their commitment to fighting banditry and other related crimes.

On Tuesday, Police Public Relations Officer Ahmad Rufa’i said suspected Lakurawa bandits attacked Ayawa village on Monday evening. They fired shots before taking away 11 cattle.

Rufa’i mentioned that a distress call led to a quick response from the Divisional Police Officer and his team. They were backed by operatives from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and the VCRU, who blocked all escape routes out of the village.

“The team engaged the bandits in a fierce gun battle that lasted for some time. Overwhelmed by our operatives’ superior firepower and tactical positioning, the criminals left the stolen cattle and ran into the nearby forest,” he said.

He added that all 11 stolen cattle were recovered safely and returned to their owners.

The police spokesperson also shared that the command's Strike Force arrested four suspects in connection with a burglary in the Guiwa Low Cost area of Sokoto metropolis.

He explained that the case followed a complaint from a trader, Marwanu Akibu, who reported that unknown persons broke into his shop on July 10 and stole 53 pieces of women’s wrapper materials.

Rufa’i noted that one suspect, Mustapha Danbaba, was arrested during a patrol around the Old Market area and allegedly confessed to the crime.

“He further revealed that he sold the items to one Abubakar Usman, while Bashar Abubakar and Sa’adu Shehu helped sell the stolen items. The case is still under investigation,” he stated.

In another operation, the Strike Force arrested a suspected member of a motorcycle theft gang after residents of Gidan Masau reported several motorcycle thefts in their area.

The statement said the suspect, Kabiru Abubakar, allegedly confessed to working with an accomplice, Ibrahim Muhammad, who is currently on the run, to steal motorcycles from Mana Babba, Nakasari, Bado Quarters, Gidan Kanawa, and Tamaje areas.

The police noted that early findings showed the stolen motorcycles were sold to two suspected receivers, named Ahmad from Sabon Titi and Kabiru from the Hausawa area, who are also being searched for.

The Commissioner of Police for Sokoto State Command, Hassan Shaffa, praised the officers involved in the operations. He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to removing criminal elements from the state.

“The Command remains determined to end crime and ensure the safety of lives and property in the state. We urge residents to stay alert and continue to share timely information with security agencies,” the commissioner said.