Sokoto: Police arrest suspected bandit informants, recover rustled animals

The Nigeria Police Force, Sokoto State Command, has recorded major breakthroughs in its ongoing operations against banditry and livestock theft with the arrest of two suspected bandit informants and the recovery of 97 rustled animals across different parts of the state.

The command disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i.

According to the statement, operatives attached to Unguwar Rogo Division, in collaboration with the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, arrested two suspected bandit informants and terrorism financiers identified as Yahaya Kurma and Musa Lawali, both residents of Kurya Village in Rabah Local Government Area.

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The suspects were reportedly arrested on May 15 following credible intelligence.

Rufa’i said the suspects had been under police surveillance for a long period over alleged links to bandit groups operating in Rabah, Kware and Wurno local government areas.

“The suspects had been on the police intelligence watchlist for a long period due to their alleged role as key informants and financial facilitators for bandit gangs,” he stated.

The police spokesperson added that the suspects were intercepted while riding an unregistered Honda motorcycle and were found with two bags containing dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.

“Intelligence indicates the suspects were actively supplying the narcotics to bandits terrorising Rabah, Kware and Wurno LGAs as part of a logistics and financing arrangement,” the statement added.

He noted that investigations were still ongoing.

In a separate operation, police operatives and soldiers attached to an Army Forward Operating Base repelled an attack by armed bandits in Gimba Village under Gawazzau District of Binji Local Government Area.

According to the statement, the attackers stormed the village late on May 14, firing gunshots and rustling domestic animals before security operatives responded to a distress call.

“Upon receipt of the information, the DPO mobilised all tactical teams alongside an Army Forward Operating Base to the village,” Rufa’i said.

“The security forces engaged the bandits in a fierce gun duel that lasted for some time. The hoodlums were overpowered and escaped through a nearby forest, abandoning the stolen animals.”

The command said a total of 78 rustled cows were recovered during the operation and would be returned to their rightful owners.

Meanwhile, police patrol teams also recovered 19 stolen sheep in Kware Local Government Area after tracing the animals’ footprints from the scene of the theft to a residence in Badageni Village.

Three suspects, Ibrahim Aliyu, Rabiatu Ibrahim and Aisha Ibrahim, were arrested in connection with the case.

The statement said one of the suspects, Rabiatu Ibrahim, confessed that two fleeing suspects identified as Auwalu and Juli brought the stolen sheep to the house.

“Efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects, and the investigation continues,” the statement said.

Commenting on the operations, the Commissioner of Police in Sokoto State, Hayatu Hassan Shaffa, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling insecurity in the state.

“The Command remains committed to ridding the state of banditry, kidnapping and related crimes,” the commissioner said.

He urged residents to continue supporting security agencies with credible and timely information to strengthen crime prevention efforts across the state.