Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Sokoto State Police Command has successfully repelled a brazen attack by heavily armed bandits on Daraye Village in Wamako Local Government Area, neutralising one suspected criminal and recovering an AK-47 rifle loaded with 28 rounds of live ammunition. The operation, which unfolded in the early hours of Saturday, 4 July 2026, marks a significant victory for security forces in a state that has witnessed a surge in banditry and cattle rustling in recent months. According to a statement issued on Sunday, 5 July 2026, by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufa'i, the command received a distress call at approximately 1:35 a.m. reporting that a large number of heavily armed bandits had invaded the community.
Operatives from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, the Village Crime Reduction Unit (VCRU), and other tactical teams were immediately deployed to reinforce officers at the Wamako Divisional Headquarters. Upon arrival, the security forces aggressively engaged the assailants in what the police described as a fierce and prolonged gun duel. Demonstrating superior tactical proficiency, the operatives successfully overpowered the bandits, forcing them to abandon their mission and retreat in disarray into the surrounding forest with varying degrees of gunshot injuries.
A subsequent combing operation of the bushes adjacent to the village led to the neutralisation of one suspected bandit. Items recovered from the suspect included one AK-47 rifle and a magazine loaded with 28 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition. The police disclosed that confidence-building patrols have since been intensified in the area to reassure residents and prevent any further attacks. Neighbouring divisional police headquarters have also been placed on high alert to intercept fleeing suspects who may be seeking medical treatment for gunshot injuries.
Commenting on the successful operation, the Commissioner of Police in Sokoto State, CP Hayatu Hassan Shaffa, commended the officers for their courage and professionalism. "The gallantry displayed by our officers is highly commendable. The Command remains unwavering in its commitment to eradicating banditry and ensuring the safety of lives and property across Sokoto State," the commissioner said. He assured residents that the police, in collaboration with other security agencies, would continue sustained operations against criminal elements until lasting peace is restored across the state.
The Daraye Village operation is the latest in a series of successful counter-banditry efforts by the Sokoto State Police Command. Just days earlier, the command recorded two other major operations in Tureta Local Government Area, near the Zamfara State border. On 28 June 2026, armed bandits invaded Fura Kirke Village, firing indiscriminately and rustling livestock. Tactical teams strategically blocked escape routes and engaged the criminals in a gun duel, forcing them to flee through the Gizazza Forest and abandon 65 rustled cows, all of which were recovered and returned to their owners. Barely 48 hours later, on 30 June 2026, another group of armed bandits attacked Bimasa Village, also in Tureta LGA. The Anti-Kidnapping Unit and tactical teams swiftly mobilised, laid siege to the attackers, and engaged them in a sustained firefight, forcing the bandits to retreat and abandon 72 rustled cows. In total, the command recovered 137 rustled cattle within one week, with no casualties recorded among security personnel or civilians.
The recent successes demonstrate the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing and coordinated tactical operations in protecting vulnerable communities. However, the persistence of bandit attacks across Sokoto State underscores the broader security challenges facing Nigeria's North-West region, where armed groups have terrorised rural communities through killings, kidnapping for ransom, and large-scale cattle rustling. The Commissioner of Police appealed to residents to sustain their support by providing timely and credible information to security agencies. As the police continue their offensive against criminal elements, the people of Daraye Village and surrounding communities can take some solace in the knowledge that their security forces are pushing back against the tide of violence that has claimed too many lives and disrupted too many livelihoods across the state.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments