Police Kill Bandit, Arrest 15 Others In Sokoto

The Anti-kidnapping Unit of the Sokoto State Police Command, led by SP Salisu Garba, has neutralised one bandit and arrested 15 others in addition to the recovery of rifles and live ammunition from criminals in the state.

The State Police Commissioner, Ali Hayatu Kaigama, while parading the suspected bandits before newsmen in Sokoto emphasized that the breakthrough was a bid to rid the state of crimes and criminalities, especially heinous crimes like banditry, kidnapping and cattle rustling across the state.

The operatives also successfully foiled a kidnapping attempt at Gigani village of Gwadabawa local government area as they engaged the suspected bandits in a fierce gun duel and neutralised one of the suspected bandits and his GPMG rifle with six live ammunition attached to the chain was recovered.

He maintained that aggressive efforts were ongoing to trace and arrest other fleeing members.

“Police operatives on 13/02/2024, acting on credible intelligence, laid ambush along the Bodinga-Tambuwal Highway; arrested an eight-man kidnapping group and their alleged driver when going out for their criminal activities and in possession of three Ak47 rifles with 90 rounds of live ammunition; 30 from each magazine,” he said.

Kaigama stated that the village head of Gedawa village in Wamakko LGA of Sokoto State reported at Wamakko Police Station, “that on the same date, at about 12pm, unknown gunmen invaded his village and kidnapped Harande Gidado, Alhaji Buba Zaria and Alhaji Manuga Kware, all of Wamakko LGA in Sokoto State to an unknown destination.

“However, the victims regained freedom after paying a ransom of N10,000,000 each.

“In continuation of the investigation, on 10/02/2024, one Surajo Rugga, Sanda Bube, Umaru Jemmu and Faruku Usman all of Baliyo village in Binji LGA of Sokoto were arrested.

“During interrogation, three out of the four suspects confessed to having conspired with others (now at large) to perpetrate the crimes and will soon be arraigned for prosecution,” he stated.