The Nigeria Police Force has arrested three suspects and recovered a fabricated AK-47 rifle, ammunition, dane guns, and 46 rustled cows in a series of operations across Sokoto State.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmad Rufa’i, the operations were carried out between April and May in different parts of the state.
Police said the first operation took place on April 29, when operatives attached to Gidan Madi Police Station acted on intelligence about suspicious persons sighted on the outskirts of Tangaza town.
“Following intensified patrols and stop-and-search operations along the Tangaza–Gidan Madi Road, three suspects were arrested.
“They were identified as Aliyu Bello, 30; Dahiru Umar, 25; and Bashar Isah Yusuf, 29, all residents of Kwazari village in Kware Local Government Area.
“Items recovered from the suspects included one fabricated AK-47 rifle, one magazine, 17 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, two 32g cartridges, two dane guns, and six charms,” the statement said.
Police said the suspects are under investigation and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
In another operation on May 3, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit foiled a cattle rustling attack in Gidan Bubu village, Wamakko Local Government Area, after receiving intelligence that armed bandits had invaded the community and were shooting sporadically.
“A tactical team pursued the attackers to Gidan Gawe Forest in Silame Local Government Area, where the suspects abandoned 19 cows and fled with injuries after an exchange of gunfire,” the statement added.
The command also disclosed that 27 cows were recovered on April 30 after officers responded to a distress call from community guards in Tangaza over the movement of suspected members of the Lakurawa group.
The cattle were recovered near Zamoriya village after the suspects fled on sighting security operatives.
The Commissioner of Police, Hayatu Hassan Shaffa, commended the officers involved in the operations and reaffirmed the command’s resolve to tackle insecurity.
“These successive breakthroughs underscore the importance of timely intelligence and robust community-police collaboration. We will not relent until every criminal element is neutralized or brought to justice,” he said.
He urged residents of Tangaza, Gidan Madi, Silame, Wamakko, and Kware Local Government Areas to continue supporting security agencies with useful information.
The police added that efforts are ongoing to track down fleeing suspects and reunite the recovered cattle with their rightful owners.
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