ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Sokoto State Police Command has arrested three alleged financiers of banditry and several other suspects linked to motorcycle theft and criminal conspiracy, recovering rustled cattle and stolen motorcycles in two coordinated operations across Sokoto and Zamfara states.
Command spokesperson DSP Ahmad Rufai, who announced the breakthrough on Friday, said the operations reflected the command’s stepped-up intelligence-driven policing and growing operational efficiency.
According to him, the first raid was executed on Wednesday by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department following credible intelligence in Tangaza Local Government Area.
Operatives, he said, apprehended one Ruwa Ginyo of Gidan-Madi and two others believed to be key intermediaries and financial enablers of a notorious bandit network.
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“Investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly received rustled cattle from armed bandits, sold them in markets, and remitted the proceeds to the criminals,” Rufai said.
He added that the suspects confessed during interrogation, and four rustled cows were recovered at the point of arrest as they attempted to sell the animals.
In a separate cross-border operation in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State, detectives tracked down and arrested several suspects connected to motorcycle theft, criminal conspiracy and receiving stolen property.
“During the operation, two suspected stolen motorcycles were recovered. Preliminary investigations linked the items to an ongoing case in Sokoto,” he said.
Rufai confirmed that all suspects remain in custody as investigators work to dismantle the wider criminal network responsible for the activities.
He added that Commissioner of Police Ahmed Musa had commended the operatives for their professionalism and vigilance during both the internal and cross-state operations.
The CP also appealed to residents to continue sharing credible intelligence with the command, assuring the public that such information would always be treated with strict confidentiality.