SEVERAL SUSPECTED BANDITS REPORTEDLY KILLED AS SECURITY FORCES REPEL CATTLE RUSTLERS IN SOKOTO
SEVERAL SUSPECTED BANDITS REPORTEDLY KILLED AS SECURITY FORCES REPEL CATTLE RUSTLERS IN SOKOTO
By Bashir Rabe Mani in Sokoto
Several suspected bandits were allegedly killed on Wednesday after a fierce clash with a combined team of security forces in Sifawa town, Bodinga Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
Our Correspondent reports that the bandits were said to be on no fewer than 100 motorcycles, escorting a herd of rustled cattle from Dandin Mahe and Badau villages in Shagari and Bodinga Local Government Areas of the state.
They were however met with stiff resistance by a combined team of security forces, including a crack team of policemen from the Sokoto State Police Command and troops from the military barracks in Sifawa town.
Sifawa is barely 20km from Sokoto city and less than 15km from the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport.
The town is also the hometown of former Chief of Army Staff, retired Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya.
Sources said the gun duel lasted for several hours. During the encounter, the fleeing bandits were said to have gunned down a farmer who was returning from his farm and suddenly ran into them.
Local sources also indicated that the incident triggered an influx of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in the affected local governments.
It is yet to be verified if there was any casualty on the side of security forces. However, calm has since returned to Sifawa and adjoining communities.
The Tambuwal-Shagari-Bodinga-Sokoto road, which was earlier blocked by the military during the operation, has also been reopened to traffic and normalcy restored.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmed Rufai, said details of the operation would be unveiled in due course.
Rufai added that the command was leaving no stone unturned to secure Sokoto city and its environs, noting that all police formations in the 23 Local Government Areas are on “high alert”.
“There is no cause for alarm, in sha Allahu,” he assured.
Despite palpable fear among residents, many commended the Sokoto State Government and security agencies for their sustained efforts to protect lives and property of law-abiding citizens.
