The Sokoto State Command of the Nigeria Police Force said it has rescued 32 kidnapped victims and stopped a major bandit attack in Rabah Local Government Area.
The rescue followed a joint operation involving police tactical teams and the military on Tuesday in Maikujera village, a remote community near the Zamfara State border.
In a statement, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufai, said the Divisional Police Officer in Rabah received intelligence that a large group of armed bandits had invaded the community.
The attackers were reportedly moving with rustled livestock and dozens of abducted victims while shooting randomly at residents.
The DPO quickly deployed tactical teams, including the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and the Violent Crime Reaction Unit (VCRU), while working with the Nigerian Army’s Forward Operating Base (FOB) to cut off possible escape routes.
The security forces engaged the bandits in a fierce gun battle. The attackers eventually abandoned their captives and stolen livestock before escaping into the forest.
Security operatives then searched the surrounding bushes and rescued all 32 victims.
“The rescued victims comprise six adult males and 26 females, the majority of whom are children. They have been evacuated to a safe location, where they are receiving medical and psychological support and will be reunited with their families shortly,” Rufai said.
The police said four people were killed by the bandits during the initial attack before security forces reached the area.
The Commissioner of Police in Sokoto State, Hayatu Shaffa, sympathised with the victims’ families and assured residents that those behind the attack would face justice.
The command said Shaffa also reaffirmed its commitment to fighting banditry and kidnapping across the state.
He urged residents to stay alert and quickly report suspicious movements or individuals to the nearest security agency.
