Loading ...SOKOTO, NIGERIA — The Sokoto State Police Command has successfully thwarted a violent incursion by heavily armed bandits into Daraye Village, situated within the Wamakko Local Government Area.
The midnight gun battle resulted in the neutralization of one suspected bandit and the recovery of an assault rifle alongside live ammunition.
The operational breakthrough was confirmed on Sunday, July 5, 2026, in an official security press release issued by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the state command, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i.
The Midnight Ambush
According to police authorities, the incident began at approximately 1:35 a.m. on Saturday, July 4, when a large gang of tactical bandits breached the outskirts of Daraye Village. The criminal syndicate, carrying sophisticated firearms, attempted to round up local residents and rustle livestock.
However, a rapid response distress call put through by a community member altered the trajectory of the raid.
Upon receiving the alert, the leadership of the Wamakko Divisional Police Headquarters mobilized a combined force. Operational teams drawing from the state’s elite Anti-Kidnapping Unit and the Violent Crime Response Centre (VCRC) were deployed to the location.
Superior Firepower Overpowers Raid
On arriving at the village perimeter, the joint police tactical squads immediately ran into the operational lines of the bandits. A fierce, prolonged gun duel ensued in the dark, with security forces utilizing superior tactical positioning to restrict the gang’s movement.
“Demonstrating superior tactical proficiency, the operatives successfully overpowered the bandits, forcing them to abandon their mission and retreat in disarray into the forest, with several bullet wounds,” the official police statement read.
Following the tactical retreat of the attackers, police teams carried out an aggressive morning sweep and combing operation throughout the nearby bushes and exit routes. During the search, operatives discovered the body of one neutralized bandit. Recovered from the deceased suspect was one AK-47 assault rifle and an operational magazine loaded with 28 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition.
Border Alert and Area Domination
Commenting on the defensive success, the Commissioner of Police for Sokoto State, CP Hayatu Hassan Shaffa, commended the bravery of the tactical squads and praised the community for their timely utilization of security communication channels.
To consolidate the victory, the command has ordered aggressive, confidence-building area domination patrols throughout Wamakko and surrounding rural communities to deter reprisal attacks.
Furthermore, all neighboring divisional headquarters and border posts linking nearby networks have been placed on high alert. Local medical facilities and traditional health practitioners have been firmly directed to report any individuals presenting with fresh, unverified gunshot injuries to law enforcement immediately.
