Police Rescue Two Hostages in Sokoto Gun Battle

​SOKOTO — The Sokoto State Police Command has successfully rescued two kidnapped victims following a fierce, hours-long gun battle with suspected bandits during a major clearance operation in Yabo Local Government Area.

​The high-stakes operation, executed in the early hours of Sunday, targeted a notorious bandit enclaved in Dan Tafki village and the surrounding hills opposite Binji Musa. According to the police, the raid was launched acting on credible intelligence regarding the heavy presence of armed criminals holding captives in the area.

​A heavily armed joint tactical team—comprising operatives from the 7 Police Mobile Force, the Violent Crime Response Unit, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, and the Yabo Police Division—stormed the hideout, immediately drawing intense gunfire from the bandits. The ensuing gun duel lasted several hours before the security forces overwhelmed the criminals with superior firepower and tactical coordination, forcing the outlaws to scatter in disarray and abandon their captives.

​The rescued victims were identified as Nafisa Abubakar and Aminu Sahabi, both residents of Dono village. Following their liberation, authorities immediately evacuated them to a medical facility, where they are currently receiving comprehensive medical treatment and psychological support.

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​In addition to rescuing the hostages, the joint security team dismantled and destroyed several strategic structures used by the bandits as operational bases and food silos.

​Reacting to the successful rescue, the Sokoto State Commissioner of Police, Hayatu Hassan Shaffa, commended the participating operatives for their exceptional bravery, professionalism, and seamless coordination. CP Shaffa reaffirmed the command’s unyielding stance against banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes across the state, assuring residents that intelligence-driven operations will be intensified to dismantle remaining criminal networks.

​The police command disclosed that a rigorous follow-up operation is already underway to track down the fleeing suspects and eradicate any remaining criminal infrastructure in the region. Authorities have urged community leaders, stakeholders, and members of the public to maintain high vigilance and continue partnering with security agencies by providing timely and credible information to aid law enforcement efforts.