Police in Sokoto State have rescued two people who had been kidnapped and destroyed several camps used by suspected bandits during a security operation in Yabo Local Government Area, north-western Nigeria.

The Sokoto State Police Command said the operation was launched after intelligence reports indicated that armed bandits were holding captives at Dan Tafki village and the surrounding hills opposite Binji Musa. The police statement was issued on Monday, 9 November 2026.

Gun battle lasted several hours

Police Public Relations Officer DSP Ahmad Rufai said the operation was led by the Commander of the 7 Police Mobile Force, with support from the Violent Crime Response Unit, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and the Yabo Division.

According to the police spokesman, the officers came under heavy gunfire shortly after arriving at the suspected hideout, and the gun battle that followed lasted several hours. The operatives eventually overpowered the bandits, forcing them to flee and abandon their captives.

The rescued victims were identified as Nafisa Abubakar and Aminu Sahabi, both residents of Dono village. Police said the two were taken to hospital for medical attention and psychological support after their rescue.

Camps and hideouts set ablaze

Rufai said the operatives also destroyed the bandits' operational facilities, including silos and several hideouts, by setting them ablaze. The police said the destruction was aimed at denying the criminal groups bases from which they could plan attacks and keep abducted people.

Commissioner of Police Hayatu Hassan Shaffa praised the personnel for their courage and effective coordination, and assured the public that the command would intensify intelligence-led operations to tackle banditry and kidnapping in the state.

The command said efforts were under way to apprehend the fleeing suspects and to destroy their remaining criminal infrastructure. It urged residents, traditional leaders and other community stakeholders to support security agencies with timely and credible information that could assist ongoing operations.

Banditry remains a serious threat in the north-west

Banditry and kidnapping for ransom have remained serious security concerns in parts of Sokoto State and other areas of north-western Nigeria, where armed groups operate from remote villages and forested areas.

Security agencies in the region have in recent months stepped up joint operations against the groups, combining police mobile units with local vigilantes and, in some areas, military support. Police said the Yabo operation formed part of that wider effort to disrupt the activities of suspected bandits, protect vulnerable communities and restore confidence among residents who have continued to face security threats.

Reports of the operation differed slightly on its timing, with one account dating the raid to Sunday and another to the early hours of Monday. The police statement, issued on Monday, was the basis for the details reported here.