The Sokoto State Police Command has foiled a bandits’ attack in Tangaza Local Government Area of the state, during which five suspects were arrested and 11 rustled cows recovered.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, disclosed this in a statement, saying the operations were carried out by officers of the Tangaza Division, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, the Village Crime Response Unit (VCRU) and the Strike Force as part of ongoing efforts to combat banditry and other crimes in the state.
According to the statement, suspected Lakurawa bandits attacked Ayawa village in Tangaza LGA at about 6:45pm on Monday, firing sporadically before rustling 11 cattle.
It said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), in collaboration with operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and the VCRU, swiftly mobilised to the area and blocked all exit routes, leading to a fierce gun battle with the attackers.
‘The bandits were overwhelmed by the superior firepower and tactical positioning of the operatives, forcing them to abandon the stolen cattle and flee into a nearby forest,’ the statement said.
The police said all 11 recovered cattle had been returned to their rightful owners.
In another operation, the command said one Marwanu Akibu reported to the Strike Force on July 19 that unknown persons had broken into his shop in the Guiwa Low Cost area of Sokoto metropolis on July 10 and stole 53 pieces of women’s wrapper materials.
Following the complaint, operatives on patrol in the Old Market area arrested Mustapha Danbaba of Kofar Marke, who allegedly confessed to breaking into the shop and stealing the wrappers.
Police said the suspect further confessed to selling the stolen items to Abubakar Usman, while Bashar Abubakar and Sa’adu Shehu allegedly assisted in disposing of the stolen property.
The command said investigations into the case were ongoing.