The recovered cattle
Operatives of the Sokoto State Police Command have foiled two separate bandit attacks in Tureta Local Government Area, recovering a total of 137 rustled cattle after fierce gun battles with the attackers.
The successful operations, carried out by the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit in collaboration with Tactical Teams and the Village Community Relations Committee (VCRC), brought relief to residents of the affected communities and prevented any loss of lives.
Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, said the first attack occurred at Fura Kirke village, where heavily armed bandits stormed the community, fired sporadically to scare residents, and rustled 65 cattle.
According to him, the police responded immediately after receiving a distress call.
“Upon receipt of the information, all tactical teams, including the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and VCRC, were immediately mobilized. Operatives strategically blocked all exit routes out of the village and engaged the bandits in a fierce gun duel. Overpowered by the superior firepower of the security forces, the hoodlums retreated through Gizazza Forest, abandoning the rustled animals in the process,” he said.
DSP Rufa’i said the command recorded another success shortly afterwards following a separate distress call from Bimasa village, also in Tureta Local Government Area, where armed bandits had invaded and made away with 72 cattle.
He explained that operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit swiftly moved to the scene, engaged the fleeing bandits in a sustained exchange of gunfire, and forced them to abandon the rustled cattle before escaping into a nearby forest.
The police spokesperson said all 137 recovered cattle have been secured, while efforts are ongoing to identify and reunite the animals with their rightful owners.
He added that the command has intensified operations to track down the fleeing suspects and urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to strengthen the fight against banditry and other criminal activities across the state.
