Sokoto State Police Command has taken major steps in its renewed campaign against organised crime with the arrest of several suspects believed to be funding and supporting bandit operations across the state.
The arrests were made during two coordinated operations carried out on Wednesday in Sokoto and neighbouring Zamfara State.
The three key suspects, picked up in Tangaza Local Government Area, are alleged to have been helping a notorious bandit group sell rustled cattle and channel the proceeds back into criminal activities.
Among those arrested was Ruwa Ginyo, identified as the Fulani head of Gidan-Madi, who was caught alongside two accomplices.
During the raid, officers recovered four rustled cows believed to have been stolen from communities terrorised by the gang.
According to police findings, the suspects have been active intermediaries for the bandits, connecting them with buyers and creating a steady flow of funds that fuel attacks, kidnappings, and cattle theft in the region.
Investigators said the arrests mark a significant breakthrough in weakening the financial backbone of the criminal network.
In a separate but closely connected operation, the Command’s Strike Force stormed Talata Mafara in Zamfara State — a location reportedly used as a safe haven by motorcycle theft syndicates.
Several suspects linked to a ring that specialises in stealing and reselling motorcycles were apprehended.
Two motorcycles earlier reported stolen in Sokoto were also recovered during the raid.
The Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Musa, described the two operations as part of a wider strategy aimed at dismantling criminal cells operating within and outside the state.
He emphasised that the Command is now extending its operational reach, making it increasingly difficult for criminals to hide across state borders.
Musa also urged livestock traders, motorcycle dealers, and residents to insist on proper documentation during transactions and to report suspicious behaviour without delay.