Police in Sokoto arrest suspected bandits’ Informants, financiers

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Sokoto State Police Command has arrested suspected informants and financiers linked to bandit activities during a security operation in parts of the state, with several rustled cattle recovered.

Details of the arrests were made public in a post shared on X on Tuesday by security analyst Zagazola Makama. According to the post, the operation took place in the early hours of Monday at about 1:00 a.m. in Sarma Village, Tangaza Local Government Area.

Makama said operatives of the Sokoto State Police Command, in collaboration with members of the community guard, carried out the intelligence-led raid, which led to the arrest of two suspects identified as Nura Dan Haruna, 20, and Buhari Salah, 18.

The suspects were found with seven cows suspected to have been stolen, as well as a motorcycle without a registration number.

Makama reported that preliminary findings showed the suspects were acting on instructions from two other individuals who remain at large.

“The suspects confessed they were sent by two individuals, Abdullahi Gulum and Dan Iko, who are currently on the run, to deliver the cows to Hamza Ibrahim, 56, of the Kara area in Illela,” Makama wrote.

He added that police later arrested Hamza Ibrahim in connection with the case.

“Hamza was later arrested by the police,” Makama wrote.

Further inquiries by the police also uncovered that Hamza Ibrahim admitted to selling two of the cows last month to Abubakar Muhammad, 31, from Gwadabawa Local Government Area. Police confirmed that Abubakar Muhammad has also been arrested.

Authorities said investigations into the case are continuing, while efforts have been stepped up to track down and arrest the remaining suspects linked to the alleged bandit network.