Sokoto Police Arrest Suspected Drug Baron, Foil Bandit Attack, Recover Rustled Livestock
Sokoto Police Arrest Suspected Drug Baron, Foil Bandit Attack, Recover Rustled Livestock
The Sokoto State Police Command has recorded major breakthroughs in its ongoing crackdown on criminal activities, arresting a suspected drug trafficker with a large cache of illicit substances and foiling a coordinated bandit attack, leading to the recovery of rustled livestock and the arrest of a suspect.
The Command disclosed that the operations were carried out in separate incidents across the state as part of intensified efforts to combat drug trafficking, banditry, and cattle rustling.
According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufai, operatives attached to Bado Division intercepted a suspected drug trafficker during a routine stop-and-search operation along the Kebbi-Sokoto Road on May 27, 2026.
The police said the patrol team flagged down two men riding an unregistered Daylong motorcycle at about 7:00 p.m. after observing suspicious behaviour.
The suspects were identified as Ummaru Abubakar Gugare and another suspect identified simply as Ummaru, both from Bagarawa in Bodinga Local Government Area.
A search conducted on the suspects led to the recovery of a large sack containing substances suspected to be Indian hemp, as well as ten rubber containers loaded with Axzol tablets, Benthexol Tablets B.P. 5mg, and a large quantity of D5 tablets, all classified as controlled substances.
While Gugare was arrested at the scene, his accomplice escaped and remains at large. The police said all recovered exhibits have been taken into custody, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect.
In a separate operation, the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit successfully repelled a bandit attack on three communities in Wamakko Local Government Area.
The police said a distress call received at about 3:00 a.m. on May 30 reported that armed bandits had invaded Zabori, Tambaranga, and Gidan Yero villages, located near the Tangaza axis.
Acting swiftly on the intelligence, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit deployed operatives to strategically block the bandits’ escape route around Abdalo Forest in Gwadabawa Local Government Area.
The operatives engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle, forcing them to retreat into the forest with suspected gunshot injuries due to the superior firepower of the police team.
During the operation, one suspect identified as Musa Usman of Damba Village in Illela Local Government Area was arrested.
The police also recovered eleven cows and five sheep believed to have been rustled by the fleeing bandits. The animals have been taken into protective custody pending identification and return to their rightful owners.
Commissioner of Police, Sokoto State Command, CP Hayatu Hassan Shaffa, psc, mnips, commended the vigilance of the Bado Division patrol team and the bravery of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit for the successful operations.
He reaffirmed the Command’s determination to dismantle drug trafficking networks and eradicate banditry and cattle rustling across the state.
“These successes represent significant blows against criminal syndicates operating in Sokoto State, whether drug traffickers or armed bandits. However, the fight against these crimes requires collective effort and sustained community support,” the Commissioner said.
CP Shaffa urged residents to continue providing credible, timely, and actionable intelligence to security agencies, particularly regarding the fleeing drug suspect, individuals with fresh gunshot wounds, or suspicious livestock transactions.
He assured the public that all information provided would be treated with strict confidentiality and reiterated the Command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state.
The police said investigations into both cases are ongoing, while efforts have been intensified to apprehend other suspects who remain at large.
By TimesNG