Police, Troops Rescue 32 Hostages After Fierce Gun Battle with Bandits in Sokoto
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, supported by troops of the Nigerian Army, have rescued 32 kidnapped victims following a fierce gun battle with armed bandits in Maikujera village, Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
Security sources said the operation was launched after the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Rabah Division received a distress call at about 8:30 a.m. on Monday, reporting the movement of a large group of heavily armed bandits around the remote community bordering Zamfara State.
According to the sources, the bandits were moving with several abducted victims and rustled livestock while firing sporadically to intimidate residents.
Acting swiftly on the intelligence, the DPO mobilised tactical teams, including personnel from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and the Violent Crime Reaction Unit (VCRU), while coordinating with troops stationed at a nearby Army Forward Operating Base (FOB).
The combined security team established strategic blocking positions along suspected escape routes before engaging the bandits in a prolonged exchange of gunfire.
Overwhelmed by the superior firepower of the security forces, the bandits abandoned the kidnapped victims and rustled livestock before fleeing into the surrounding forest.
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Following the encounter, security personnel conducted extensive search-and-rescue operations across nearby bushes and communities to locate victims who had scattered while escaping the crossfire.
The operation resulted in the successful rescue of 32 kidnapped victims, all of whom were recovered alive and without physical injuries.
The rescued victims comprised six adult males and 26 females, most of whom were children.
They were evacuated to a secure location, where they are receiving medical care and psychosocial support ahead of their reunification with their families.
However, security sources disclosed that four residents were killed by the bandits during the initial attack on the community before the arrival of security personnel.
Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Sokoto State, CP Hayatu Hassan Shaffa, expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and assured residents that security agencies were intensifying efforts to track down and apprehend the fleeing bandits.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes across the state, while urging members of the public to remain vigilant and continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies.
The successful operation highlights the growing operational synergy between the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Army in combating banditry and kidnapping across northwestern Nigeria, particularly in communities along the Sokoto–Zamfara border, where criminal groups have continued to exploit difficult terrain to launch attacks on rural settlements.
By PRNigeria
