The Sokoto State Police Command has rescued 32 kidnapped victims and foiled a major bandit operation in Rabah Local Government Area. The action followed a coordinated security operation involving police tactical teams and the military.

The operation took place on Tuesday in Maikujera village, a remote community bordering Zamfara State. It began after the Divisional Police Officer in Rabah received a distress call that a large group of armed bandits had invaded the area.

According to a statement by the state police public relations officer, DSP Ahmad Rufai, the attackers were moving with rustled livestock and dozens of abducted victims while shooting sporadically at residents.

He said the DPO immediately mobilised tactical units, including the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and the Violent Crime Reaction Unit (VCRU), and coordinated with the Nigerian Army’s Forward Operating Base (FOB) to block all possible escape routes.

The combined security teams engaged the bandits in a fierce gun battle. This forced the attackers to abandon their captives and stolen livestock before fleeing into the forest.

Following the exchange, security operatives combed the surrounding bush and rescued all 32 kidnapped 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.

Four Killed as Police Pledge to Track Fleeing Perpetrators

The police, however, disclosed that four persons were killed by the bandits during the initial attack before security operatives arrived at the scene.

Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Sokoto State, Hayatu Shaffa, expressed sympathy with the bereaved families and assured residents that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.

Shaffa leads the state police command and has overseen several operations against banditry in recent months.

“The Commissioner of Police extends his deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and assures the public that efforts are ongoing to track down the fleeing perpetrators,” the statement quoted him as saying.

Shaffa reaffirmed the command’s commitment to combating banditry and kidnapping across the state. He urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements or individuals to the nearest security agency.

The latest rescue comes amid sustained security operations against armed bandits operating in parts of Sokoto and neighbouring Zamfara State, where cross‑border raids and kidnappings have surged in recent years.