Bandits Flee As Police, Military Rescue 32 Kidnap Victims In Sokoto
A coordinated operation involving the Nigeria Police Force and the military has led to the rescue of 32 kidnapped victims after armed bandits were forced to flee during a gun battle in Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The Sokoto State Police Command said the operation was carried out on Tuesday in Maikujera village, a border community with Zamfara State, following intelligence that a large group of armed bandits had invaded the area.
According to a statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufai, the attackers stormed the community with rustled livestock and dozens of abducted victims while firing sporadically to intimidate residents.
Acting on the intelligence, the Divisional Police Officer in Rabah immediately mobilised tactical operatives, including the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and the Violent Crime Reaction Unit (VCRU), in collaboration with troops of the Nigerian Army’s Forward Operating Base (FOB), to intercept the fleeing bandits.
The combined security team engaged the criminals in a fierce exchange of gunfire, forcing them to abandon the kidnapped victims and stolen livestock before escaping into the surrounding forest.
A subsequent search operation led to the successful rescue of all 32 captives.
According to the police, the rescued victims include six adult males and 26 females, most of whom are children.
“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,” the statement read.
The command, however, disclosed that four residents lost their lives during the initial attack before security operatives arrived at the scene.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police in Sokoto State, Hayatu Shaffa, sympathised with the families of the deceased and assured residents that the fleeing bandits would be tracked down and brought to justice.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to sustaining the fight against banditry and kidnapping across the state while urging members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies.
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