The Sokoto State Police Command says it has recorded fresh breakthroughs in its ongoing crackdown on crime, including drug trafficking and banditry, with arrests made, illegal drugs seized, and stolen livestock recovered.
Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufai, said officers from the Bado Division intercepted two men riding an unregistered motorcycle along the Kebbi–Sokoto highway on May 27 during a routine patrol.
The suspects, identified as Ummaru Abubakar Gugare and another man also named Ummaru, were stopped and searched by the operatives.
During the search, police recovered a sack containing suspected cannabis, along with several packs of controlled drugs such as Axzol, Benthexol, and D5 tablets.
One of the suspects, Gugare, was arrested at the scene, while the second suspect managed to escape. Police said efforts are ongoing to track and arrest him.
In a separate operation on May 30, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit responded to a reported bandit attack on Zabori, Tambaranga, and Gidan Yero communities in Wamakko Local Government Area.
Security operatives moved quickly and blocked the suspected attackers’ escape route around Abdalo Forest in Gwadabawa LGA, leading to a gun battle.
The police said the armed men were forced to flee into the forest after being overpowered, with some believed to have sustained gunshot injuries.
During the operation, one suspect, Musa Usman from Damba Village in Illela LGA, was arrested.
Officers also recovered 11 cows and five sheep believed to have been stolen during the attack. The animals are currently in police custody for safe keeping until they are returned to their rightful owners.
Sokoto State Commissioner of Police, Hayatu Hassan Shaffa, described the operations as a “major setback for criminal groups involved in drug trafficking and banditry within the state.”
He praised the officers for their swift response and urged residents to continue providing timely and useful information to security agencies.
According to him, continued cooperation between the police and the public is key to dismantling criminal networks and restoring lasting peace in Sokoto State.
The command added that investigations are still ongoing, while intensified efforts are underway to arrest other fleeing suspects linked to the incidents.