Operatives of the Sokoto State Police Command have foiled a bandit attack on Anada Village in Binji Local Government Area, recovering all 43 sheep stolen by the attackers during the operation.

The command said the attack occurred at about 9:00 pm on Thursday when armed bandits invaded the village, shooting sporadically before rustling 43 sheep belonging to residents.

According to a statement issued on Friday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, the Divisional Police Officer in Binji immediately mobilised a combined tactical team comprising personnel from the Anti-Kidnapping Squad and the Viable Crime Response Unit to pursue the fleeing suspects.

“The operatives swiftly blocked all possible escape routes and engaged the bandits in a fierce gun battle. Unable to withstand the superior firepower of the police, the hoodlums abandoned the rustled sheep and fled into the surrounding forest,” the statement said.

The police confirmed that all 43 sheep were recovered intact and returned, adding that no casualties or injuries were recorded among security personnel or members of the community.

The command said tactical operatives have sustained a coordinated manhunt across nearby forests to apprehend the fleeing suspects and forestall further attacks in the area.

Commending the officers for their swift response, the Commissioner of Police in Sokoto State, Hayatu Hassan Shaffa, praised the Binji DPO and his team for their courage and professionalism.

“The Sokoto State Police Command remains resolute in its commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state. We urge members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to support ongoing security operations,” the commissioner said.

Communities in Binji and other parts of Sokoto State have faced recurring attacks by armed bandits in recent years, prompting intensified joint security operations aimed at curbing criminal activities and restoring peace in the affected areas.