Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
In a significant breakthrough in the fight against banditry in Sokoto State, the police have arrested three individuals suspected of financing and facilitating the activities of notorious bandit gangs in the region. Among those apprehended is Ruwa Ginyo, the Fulani head of Gidan-Madi in Tangaza Local Government Area, who is alleged to have acted as a key intermediary for criminal networks.
According to police sources, the suspects were intercepted on December 3, 2025, at around 2:00 pm while attempting to sell four cows stolen during recent raids. The operation, conducted by a combined police team, prevented the livestock from reaching unsuspecting buyers, thwarting an attempt to launder stolen property into the local market.
Investigations so far indicate that the arrested individuals acted as brokers for the Lakurawa bandits, one of the most active criminal gangs in the northwest. The suspects reportedly coordinated the sale of stolen cattle, collected payment from buyers, and transmitted the proceeds back to the bandits who carried out the raids. Police have described their activities as part of a wider network that provides financial and logistical support to armed criminal elements, which has historically made banditry difficult to combat.
During interrogation, all three suspects reportedly confessed to their involvement in facilitating cattle rustling and revealed critical details that could help law enforcement dismantle the criminal network. Authorities confirmed that follow-up investigations are ongoing, with the aim of recovering additional stolen property and apprehending other individuals linked to the syndicate.
Sokoto police spokesperson, in a statement, emphasized that the arrests reflect a shift in strategy from merely targeting armed bandits to disrupting the financial and operational structures that sustain their activities. “By cutting off the financial lifelines of these gangs, we aim to reduce their capacity to commit crimes and terrorize communities,” the statement said.
Local residents have welcomed the development, noting that cattle rustling has long been a source of fear and economic hardship in Tangaza and neighbouring communities. Analysts suggest that apprehending financiers and informants is a critical step toward weakening the hold of criminal gangs, as it addresses the root causes of sustained insecurity rather than just the symptoms.
This arrest is part of ongoing efforts by security agencies in Sokoto State to curb banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes in the northwest. With the festive season approaching, authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and to report suspicious activities promptly, assuring that the police are fully committed to protecting lives and property.
The success of this operation also highlights the growing importance of intelligence-led policing in the region, which has increasingly relied on community cooperation, surveillance, and strategic interventions to combat criminal networks. As investigations continue, security operatives hope that the arrest of these financiers will send a strong message to other collaborators that aiding bandits will not go unpunished.
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