Sokoto Police Command nabs long-watched bandits’ informants, foil attacks, recover stolen livestock 
From Bashir Rabe Mani in Sokoto
The Sokoto State Police has recorded a string of significant successes in ongoing counter-banditry operations across Rabah, Kware, Wurno, Binji, and other Local Government Areas.
In a major breakthrough, operatives have arrested two suspected bandit informants and terrorism financiers who where on the watchlist for an extended period marking a critical milestone in dismantling the criminal networks terrorizing the region.
This was contained in a statement signed by the spokesperson of the command, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, issued in Sokoto on Saturday.
It said, “On 15 May 2026 at about 0700hrs, acting on credible intelligence, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Unguwar Rogo, in conjunction with the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, successfully trailed and arrested two suspects.
“They are: Yahaya Kurma M and Musa Lawali M, both residents of Kurya Village, Rabah LGA. Both suspects had been on the police intelligence watchlist for a long period due to their alleged role as key informants and financial facilitators for bandit gangs.
“They were intercepted while riding an unregistered Honda motorcycle and carrying two bags of dried leaves strongly suspected to be Indian hemp. Intelligence indicates the suspects were actively supplying the narcotics to bandits terrorizing Rabah, Kware, and Wurno LGAs as part of a logistics and financing arrangement. The case is under investigation.”
According to the statement, on 14 May 2026 at about 2330hrs, police attached to Binji Division received a distress call that a large number of armed bandits had invaded Gimba Villages, a remote hamlet under Gawazzau District in Binji LGA.
It continued,” The assailants were shooting sporadically and rustled an unspecified number of domestic animals.
“Upon receipt of the information, the DPO mobilized all tactical teams alongside an Army Forward Operating Base (FOB) to the village. Security forces engaged the bandits in a fierce gun duel that lasted for some time.
*The hoodlums were overpowered and escaped through a nearby forest, abandoning the stolen animals. A total of seventy-eight (78) rustled cows were recovered.
” The recovered animals will be handed over to their rightful owners, and the joint team has maintained vigilance in the area.”
Similarly, on 16 May 2026 at about 0300hrs, a police patrol team around More area while on patrols, received a complaint from Aliyu Bello and two others all M of same address that at about 0230hrs, unknown persons trespassed into Aliyu Bello’s house and stole nineteen sheep to an unknown destination.
The statement added, “Upon receipt of the complaint, the team traced the footprints of the stolen animals to Badageni Village, Kware LGA, leading to the house of:
“They are: Ibrahim Aliyu, male, 40 years Rabiatu Ibrahim, female, 20 years and
Aisha Ibrahim, female, 15 years.”
According to the statement, investigations revealed that Rabiatu Ibrahim confessed that one Auwalu and Juli (both male, now at large) were the individuals who brought the sheep into their house. Efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects, and the investigation continues.
“The Commissioner of Police Cp Hayatu Hassan Shaffa, reiterates the Command commitment to rid the state of banditry, kidnapping, and related crimes.
“The citizens are encouraged to continue providing timely and credible information that will assist in crime prevention and control,” the statement concluded.
