The Sokoto State Police Command has arrested a suspected member of the deadly Lakurawa bandit group and recovered an AK-49 rifle along with live ammunition.
This was revealed in a statement on Thursday by the state Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Musa, through the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufai.
According to the statement, the suspect, Buba Magaji from Julirkol village in Silame Local Government Area, was arrested on Sunday by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit after a tip-off.
The police said Magaji is a known associate of the Lakurawa bandit group, which has been responsible for several attacks across local government areas including Silame, Wamakko, Binji, and Yabo.
“During interrogation, the suspect confessed to being part of the gang’s criminal activities and led officers to the location where he hid an AK-49 rifle,” the statement said.
Following his confession, officers searched the area along the Silame axis and recovered the rifle, a magazine, and 22 rounds of live ammunition.
CP Musa described the arrest as a major breakthrough in the ongoing fight against banditry and kidnapping in the state.
“This operation shows how valuable community support and reliable intelligence are in our efforts to secure Sokoto,” he said.
The police boss thanked residents for their cooperation and urged them to remain alert and report suspicious activities to security agencies.