Police Rescue 32 Kidnap Victims, Recover Rustled Livestock in Sokoto
The Sokoto State Police Command has rescued 32 kidnapped victims following a coordinated security operation in Maikujera Village, Rabah Local Government Area, after armed bandits invaded the community.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufai, disclosed this in a statement, explaining that the operation was launched after the Divisional Police Officer of Rabah Division received a distress call reporting that heavily armed bandits had stormed the village with rustled livestock and several kidnapped victims while shooting indiscriminately.
According to the statement, the Police immediately deployed tactical teams, including the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and the Violent Crime Reaction Unit, in collaboration with troops of the Nigerian Army Forward Operating Base, to strategic locations to cut off the bandits’ escape routes.
The combined security team engaged the fleeing criminals in a fierce gun battle, forcing them to abandon their captives and the rustled livestock before escaping into the forest.
A follow-up search-and-rescue operation led to the successful rescue of 32 victims, comprising six adult males and 26 females, most of whom were children.
The Police said the rescued victims have been moved to a secure location where they are receiving medical care and psychosocial support ahead of their reunion with their families.
The Command, however, disclosed that four persons lost their lives during the initial attack by the bandits before security operatives arrived at the scene.
Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Hayatu Hassan Shaffa, expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and assured residents that efforts were underway to track down the fleeing suspects and bring them to justice.
He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to sustaining aggressive operations against banditry and other violent crimes across the state.
The Police Command also urged residents to remain vigilant and continue supporting security agencies by promptly reporting suspicious movements and criminal activities, noting that public cooperation remains crucial to ongoing efforts to restore lasting peace and security across Sokoto State.
Police Rescue 32 Kidnap Victims, Recover Rustled Livestock in Sokoto