Police foil bandit attacks, rescue ‘207 trafficked children’

The police say it has foiled several bandit attacks and rescued more than 200 children from human traffickers in a series of nationwide operations.

A statement on Monday by Muyiwa Adejobi, the force spokesperson, said operatives in Kogi state overpowered a group of bandits on January 18, killing one suspect and arresting four members of the gang.

He said the police recovered one AK-47 rifle, two magazines, 30 rounds of live ammunition and two motorcycles from the bandits.

Adejobi added that on the same day, officials of the force intercepted suspected cattle thieves at Ruwan Doruwa village in Dutsinma LGA of Katsina state.

He said police officers engaged the bandits in a gun duel that resulted in the death of seven members of the group.

“On January 18th 2025, police operatives attached to the Kogi state command got information of a group of armed bandits holding a strategic meeting for possible attack at a forest in Budon, Kogi State. Gallant operatives of the Command were mobilized and deployed to the scene,” the statement reads.

“Upon sighting the police operatives, the bandits engaged the police operatives in a fierce gun duel. Fortunately, the bandits were overpowered, with one bandit neutralized and 4 others arrested. The operatives also recovered 1 AK-47 rifle, 2 magazines, 30 rounds of live ammunition and 2 motorcycles.

“Similarly, on the same January 18th 2025, a distress call was received at the Dutsinma divisional police headquarters, Katsina state that some suspected armed bandits, armed with dangerous weapons, were headed to attack Ruwan Doruwa village, Dutsinma LGA of the state.

“Upon receipt of this call, police operatives in collaboration with other security agencies mobilized, intercepted the armed bandits and engaged them in a fierce gun battle ultimately leading to the neutralization of 7 of the bandits, with the rest of the gang fleeing and abandoning 109 livestock suspected to be rustled animals.”

Adejobi said the police has also rescued at least 207 children in recent anti-trafficking operations nationwide, with several suspects arrested.

“In a significant development, the Nigeria Police Force has escalated its initiatives to combat human trafficking and the operation of illegal baby factories, successfully rescuing more than 207 abducted children from suspected traffickers nationwide,” Adejobi said.

”A significant breakthrough was achieved with the arrest of a syndicate involved in child abduction and trafficking by the Ondo State Police Command, following intelligence regarding a missing child at Okuta Elerin-Nla, Akure.

“The operatives apprehended members of the syndicate, identified as Abosede Olanipekun ‘f’, Lukman Isiaka ‘m’, and Sabira Izuorah ‘f’, and rescued 14 children between the ages of 1 week – 7 years old.”