The Sokoto State Police Command says it has rescued 32 kidnapped victims and disrupted a bandit operation in Rabah Local Government Area following a joint operation with military personnel.
According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufai, the operation was carried out on Tuesday in Maikujera village, a community bordering Zamfara State, after security authorities received intelligence about an armed bandit invasion.
The command said the attackers were moving through the area with abducted victims and rustled livestock while shooting sporadically.
Police tactical teams, including the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and Violent Crime Reaction Unit, alongside troops from the Nigerian Army’s Forward Operating Base, were deployed to the area and blocked possible escape routes.
The security forces engaged the bandits in a gun battle, forcing them to abandon the victims and stolen animals before fleeing into nearby forests.
The rescued victims, six adult males and 26 females, mostly children, were evacuated to a safe location where they are receiving medical and psychological support before being reunited with their families.
The police said four residents were killed during the initial attack before security operatives arrived.
Sokoto Commissioner of Police, Hayatu Shaffa, commiserated with the families of the victims and assured residents that efforts were ongoing to track down those responsible.
He urged communities to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security agencies.
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