Police, Army rescue 32 kidnap victims in Sokoto

The Sokoto State Police Command has rescued 32 kidnapped victims after repelling a bandit attack in Maikujera village, Rabah Local Government Area, in a joint operation with the Nigerian Army.

The operation, carried out on Tuesday, followed a distress call to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Rabah, reporting that a large group of armed bandits had invaded the remote community bordering Zamfara State with abducted victims and rustled livestock.

In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufai, said the bandits were firing indiscriminately as they attempted to move their captives and stolen animals out of the area.

He said the DPO swiftly deployed tactical teams, including the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and the Violent Crime Reaction Unit (VCRU), while working with personnel from the Nigerian Army’s Forward Operating Base (FOB), who mounted strategic roadblocks to prevent the criminals from escaping.

The security operatives engaged the bandits in a prolonged gun battle, forcing them to flee into the forest and abandon both their hostages and the rustled livestock.

“Overwhelmed by the superior firepower and tactical manoeuvring of the combined security forces, the hoodlums abandoned their hostages and rustled animals before escaping into the forest,” Rufai said.

He said security personnel subsequently combed the surrounding bushes and rescued all 32 abducted victims, comprising six adult males and 26 females, most of whom were children.

According to him, the victims have been moved to a safe location, where they are receiving medical attention and psychosocial support before being reunited with their families.

Despite the successful rescue, the police confirmed that four residents were killed by the attackers during the initial assault before security forces arrived.

The Commissioner of Police, Hayatu Hassan Shaffa, described the killings as tragic and expressed condolences to the bereaved families.

“The Command extends its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and assures the public that efforts are ongoing to track down the fleeing perpetrators,” he said.

Shaffa reaffirmed the command’s resolve to sustain the fight against banditry and kidnapping across Sokoto State and urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies.