POLICE NEUTRALISE TWO SUSPECTED BANDITS, ARREST 11 IN SOKOTO
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By;Sunmola Ganiyat
The Sokoto State Police Command has neutralised two suspected bandits and arrested 11 other suspects in separate operations targeting banditry, motorcycle theft and other criminal activities across the state.
The operations, conducted between August 14 and 15, 2026, also led to the recovery of two AK-47 rifles, 54 rounds of live ammunition, magazines, a locally fabricated pistol and 14 stolen motorcycles.
The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday.
According to Rufa’i, the police successfully foiled an attempted bandit attack on Dankadu Village in Illela Local Government Area after receiving a distress call at about 9pm on August 15.
He said the attackers were reportedly advancing from Tsauana Forest towards the village when operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Volunteer Constabulary, Rescue Unit and other tactical teams were deployed to intercept them.
The operatives engaged the bandits in a gun battle, forcing the attackers to flee into the forest with gunshot wounds.
A subsequent search of the area resulted in the recovery of two AK-47 rifles, two magazines and 54 rounds of live ammunition, while two of the fleeing suspects were later neutralised.
The police said no security personnel or resident was killed during the operation, adding that confidence-building patrols were being sustained to reassure residents of their safety.
In a separate operation, three suspects were arrested over alleged involvement in a motorcycle theft syndicate operating around Kwannawa and Tamaje areas of Sokoto metropolis.
The suspects were identified as Siba Abdullahi of Dimbiso Village in Wurno Local Government Area, Hassan Hassan of Tamaje and Usama Isah of Ungwar Rogo.
Police said five stolen motorcycles and a locally fabricated pistol were recovered from their premises.
The command’s Strike Force also arrested other suspects allegedly linked to a wider criminal network involved in motorcycle theft, extortion, forgery and receiving stolen property.
The operation followed complaints from community leaders in Mana Babba, Mabera, Anguwar Rogo and Tamaje over the rising cases of motorcycle theft and other criminal activities.
Police said Hamza Abubakar of Mabera and Yasir Muhammed of Mana were among those arrested during the operation.
According to the command, the suspects allegedly confessed to conspiring with other members of the syndicate to steal motorcycles, with some of their alleged accomplices still at large.
Further investigations reportedly led to the arrest of three alleged buyers of the stolen motorcycles identified as Abubakar Aliyu, Abdullahi Bashar and Zakariya Ibrahim.
The police said nine stolen motorcycles had so far been recovered in connection with the syndicate, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend other members of the group.
Commenting on the operations, the Commissioner of Police, Sokoto State Command, CP Hassan Hayatu Shaffa, commended the personnel involved for their professionalism, bravery and swift response.
Shaffa reaffirmed the command’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks across the state, warning that criminals would be relentlessly pursued and brought to justice.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements and activities to the police.
The commissioner also warned members of the public against purchasing stolen motorcycles, stressing that anyone found dealing in stolen property would face prosecution.
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