Sokoto Police Kill Two Suspected Bandits, Arrest 11 Others

The Sokoto State Police Command says two suspected bandits have been killed and 11 other suspects arrested in separate operations targeting banditry, motorcycle theft and other criminal activities across the state.

The operations, carried out between August 14 and 15, also led to the recovery of two AK-47 rifles, 54 rounds of ammunition, magazines, a locally made pistol and 14 stolen motorcycles.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday.

According to the police, one of the operations followed a distress call around 9pm on August 15 over an attempted bandit attack on Dankadu Village in Illela Local Government Area.

Tactical teams, including the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Volunteer Constabulary and Rescue Unit, were deployed after reports that armed men were moving towards the community from Tsauana Forest.

The police said the operatives engaged the attackers in a gun battle, forcing them to retreat into the forest with gunshot wounds. A subsequent search reportedly led to the death of two suspected bandits and the recovery of two AK-47 rifles, two magazines and 54 rounds of ammunition.

The command said no resident or security operative was killed during the operation, adding that patrols were continuing in the area to reassure residents.

In a separate operation targeting a motorcycle theft syndicate in Kwannawa and Tamaje areas of Sokoto metropolis, police arrested three suspects and recovered five stolen motorcycles and a locally fabricated pistol.

The suspects were identified as Siba Abdullahi, Hassan Hassan and Usama Isah.

Further investigations by the Strike Force led to the arrest of additional suspects allegedly connected to motorcycle theft, extortion, forgery and receiving stolen property.

Police said the arrests followed complaints from communities including Mana Babba, Mabera, Anguwar Rogo and Tamaje.

Hamza Abubakar and Yasir Muhammed were among those arrested, while alleged buyers of stolen motorcycles, identified as Abubakar Aliyu, Abdullahi Bashar and Zakariya Ibrahim, were also apprehended.

The command said nine stolen motorcycles had so far been recovered in connection with the syndicate, while efforts were ongoing to arrest other suspects still at large.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Hassan Hayatu Shaffa, commended the officers for their bravery and swift response, assuring residents that criminal networks across the state would be relentlessly pursued.

He urged the public to report suspicious activities and warned against buying stolen motorcycles, stressing that anyone found dealing in stolen property would face prosecution.

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