Bandits flee with gunshot wounds as police repel attack in Sokoto

Suspected bandits fled with gunshot wounds after security operatives repelled an attack on Tauma Village in Bodinga Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The Sokoto State Police Command said the attack happened at about 8:30 p.m. on July 25 after armed bandits invaded the community.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Ahmed Rufai, said the police received a distress call from a resident informing them that heavily armed bandits had stormed the village.

He said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) quickly mobilised tactical teams, including officers from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and the Violence Crime Response Unit (VCRU), to confront the attackers.

“Our tactical teams engaged the bandits in a gun battle, forcing them to flee into the surrounding forest. During a search of the area and their escape routes, officers recovered five rifle magazines loaded with 40 rounds of live ammunition, which the fleeing suspects abandoned,” he said.

The Command described the operation as a major success, noting that no resident or security operative was killed or injured during the exchange of gunfire.

Following the operation, police said confidence-building patrols had been intensified in Tauma Village and neighbouring communities to reassure residents and prevent further attacks.

The Command also disclosed that neighbouring police divisions had been placed on high alert to monitor for suspects who might seek treatment for gunshot wounds or attempt to hide in their areas.

It urged healthcare workers, community leaders and members of the public to remain vigilant and report anyone with suspicious injuries or unusual movements to the nearest police station or other security agencies.