Bandits Flee Empty-Handed as Police Recover 25 Rustled Cows in Soko

Operatives of the Sokoto State Police Command have successfully thwarted a bandit attack on Imasa Matankari village, a remote settlement in Tureta Local Government Area bordering Zamfara State, and recovered 25 cattle stolen during the incident.

The operation was carried out by the Command’s Violence Crime Response Unit (VCRU) and Anti-Kidnapping Unit in collaboration with other security agencies. Authorities described the mission as a major success, noting that no lives were lost during the attack.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufai, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police. According to the statement, security personnel responded promptly after receiving a distress call from residents of the affected community.
The statement explained that on June 2, 2026, at about 2:00 p.m., information was received that a large group of armed bandits had invaded Imasa Matankari village. During the attack, the assailants reportedly fired sporadically and rustled 25 cows belonging to villagers.
Following the alert, the Officer Commanding the VCRU, who was already on heightened readiness, mobilized a combined team comprising operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and personnel from the Army Forward Operating Base (FOB). The security team swiftly sealed off escape routes and engaged the attackers in a gun battle.
After an intense exchange of fire, the operatives overpowered the bandits, forcing them to flee into the nearby Kuruwa Forest. In their haste to escape, the criminals abandoned all the stolen livestock.
Police said all 25 cows were recovered and have since been returned to their rightful owners.
The Command added that security operatives have maintained heightened surveillance in the area and are continuing efforts to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police urged residents to remain calm and continue providing useful and timely information to security agencies, stressing that public cooperation remains vital in the ongoing fight against banditry and kidnapping across the state.