Police has foiled bandit attack in Sokoto and recovered two rocket launchers.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the Sokoto State Police Command has foiled a planned attack by armed bandits on Tsabre Village in Isa Local Government Area of the state, recovering two rocket launchers and other items following a gun battle with the attackers.
The incident occurred at about 1 a.m. on Friday, October 2, 2026, when a large number of armed bandits reportedly invaded the community and began shooting sporadically, apparently to create panic among residents.
According to the police, the Divisional Police Officer in Isa swiftly mobilised tactical teams, including operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and Violent Crime Response Unit, after receiving a distress call.
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The teams engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle, forcing the bandits to retreat into a nearby forest with casualties, the command’s spokesperson, DSP Ahmad Rufai, said in a statement.
Following the withdrawal of the attackers, police operatives searched the surrounding bushes and recovered two rocket launchers and other items believed to have been abandoned by the bandits.
The recovered items include two empty AK-47 magazines, a keypad Tecno mobile phone without a battery, a torchlight, an Army jungle hat, a sweater cap, five pairs of sandals and a rain jacket.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Hayatu Hassan Shaffa, commended the officers for their swift response and bravery during the operation.
Shaffa reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across Sokoto State and urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons or activities to the police.
The commissioner also appealed to members of the public to report anyone suspected to have sustained gunshot wounds and seeking medical treatment to the nearest police station.
He said efforts were ongoing to locate and apprehend the fleeing bandits.
