Police kill suspected bandit, recover rifle in Sokoto

The Sokoto State Police Command has again neutralized a suspected bandit and retrieved an AK-47 rifle, following the arrest of fifteen suspects for a variety of crimes a few days prior.

The command spokesman, ASP Ahmed Rufai, provided our correspondent with a press release signed by Ali Kaigama, the state commissioner of police, which includes this information.

The statement said that while on their way to Tambuwal for a kidnapping mission, five suspects were apprehended carrying three AK-47s and ninety rounds of live ammunition.

They are led by Bello Hantsi, also known as Mai Dubu-Dubu, M., of Tungar Rana Village via Sabon Birni in Kware LGA, and he is also their supplier of weapons and ammunition, according to the report.

Around 03:30 today, DPO Kware Division and his men, along with Anti-Kidnapping unit operatives, mobilized to search for the suspect. He fired a shot to get away from capture after spotting the team and smelling danger at a nearby bush, but the team quickly neutralized him and other members of the group were injured by bullets.

“One suspected bandit’s body and one Ak-47 rifle with 21 rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the scene during the course of scanning the scene,” the statement continued.

While praising the officer’s commitment and professionalism, the state’s commissioner of police asked residents to keep providing timely information to the command and other state security agencies.

He said that by providing information on suspected criminal activity, the command and other security agencies will be able to act quickly and forcefully against any state criminals who refuse to cooperate.

He also reaffirmed the command’s pledge to safeguard the lives and assets of the law-abiding citizens of the state while they are in his care.