Police in Sokoto State have arrested several individuals suspected of working with bandits as informants and financiers, and recovered weapons during recent operations.
Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, the Commissioner of Police, Hayatu Hassan Shaffa, gave an update on security in the state and outlined the command’s recent achievements.
He said that on April 17, 2026, officers from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit acted on intelligence and arrested a suspect, Aminu Mai Roba, from Maikulki Village in Binji Local Government Area.
The suspect was stopped along the Ruwa-Wuri–Tangaza Road with four cows.
Shaffa said: “During interrogation, the suspect confessed to receiving the animals from the Lakurawa terrorist group at Wariya Village, Tangaza local government.
“His role was to sell the cattle and return the proceeds to the terrorist network. The recovered cows have been registered as exhibits, and the case is currently under further investigation.”
The police chief explained that the briefing was part of efforts to keep the public informed and strengthen trust between the police and residents.
“The Command, under my stewardship, remains firmly committed to its constitutional mandate: the protection of lives and property, the prevention and detection of crime, and the maintenance of law and public order,” he said.
He added that the command has adjusted its internal systems to comply with directives from the Inspector-General of Police, including discipline and operations against criminal hideouts.
“Since I assumed duty, the Command has recorded significant operational breakthroughs against violent crimes,” Shaffa said.
“These achievements are not only indicative of the professionalism, vigilance, and gallantry of our officers, but have been further strengthened by the IGP’s vision in restructuring the Force.”
He said cooperation with other security agencies and local groups has also improved operations in the state.
The commissioner also spoke on an attack that took place on April 8 in Sabon Birni Local Government Area, near the Niger Republic border. Police received a distress call that armed bandits had attacked Kwarengamba and Gayya da Kwari villages.
“Our Police Tactical Team, in conjunction with the Military, Community Guard Watch, and local vigilantes, mobilised immediately to the scene,” he said.
“The joint force routed the bandits and engaged them in a fierce gun duel. The bandits were overpowered and fled with bullet wounds into the nearby bush.
“During the pursuit, they abandoned a sack containing 167 rounds of live ammunition, which has since been recovered and registered as an exhibit.”
Earlier, on April 4, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit carried out raids in three local government areas—Tambuwal, Kware, and Goronyo—targeting known criminal hideouts.
Three suspects were arrested during the operation. They were identified as Isiya Yusuf from Maganga Village in Goronyo Local Government Area, Dankulu Sani from Dogon Daji in Tambuwal Local Government Area, and Yushau Abubakar from Kware Local Government Area.
Shaffa said: “The following incriminating items were recovered from their hideouts: Seven locally made Dane guns; one AK-47 magazine; one military uniform; sharp cutlasses; hard drugs; and a quantity of dry leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.
All three suspects have been charged in court accordingly.”
He stressed that the police remain determined to tackle crime in the state and will continue to improve intelligence gathering, deploy officers strategically, and strengthen community policing.
