The Nigeria Police Force in Sokoto State has neutralised a suspected armed bandit and recovered an AK-47 rifle with live ammunition following a foiled attack on Daraye Village in Wamako Local Government Area.

The command said the operation was carried out in the early hours of Saturday after operatives responded to a distress call indicating that heavily armed bandits had invaded the community.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmad Rufa’i, said the alert was received at about 1:35 a.m. on July 4, prompting the deployment of personnel from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, the Village Crime Reduction Unit, and other tactical teams to reinforce officers at the Wamakko Divisional Headquarters.

He said the operatives engaged the attackers in a prolonged gun battle, forcing them to abandon the operation and flee into nearby forests with gunshot injuries.

According to the statement, a follow-up combing of the surrounding bushes led to the neutralisation of one suspected bandit, from whom an AK-47 rifle and a magazine loaded with 28 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition were recovered.

The command added that confidence-building patrols had been intensified in the area to reassure residents and prevent further attacks, while neighbouring divisions had been placed on alert to intercept fleeing suspects.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Hayatu Hassan Shaffa, commended the officers for their bravery and professionalism, reaffirming the command’s commitment to tackling banditry and protecting lives and property.

He assured residents that sustained operations, in collaboration with other security agencies, would continue until peace is fully restored across the state.