Bandits Attack Immigration Checkpoint in Sokoto, Leaving 2 Officers Dead

In a shocking and tragic incident on Friday night, bandits launched a brazen attack on an immigration checkpoint situated in the Gwadabawa area of Sokoto State, Nigeria.

The ruthless assault resulted in the loss of two immigration officers’ lives, leaving several others with gunshot injuries.

Confirming the distressing event, the spokesperson of the Sokoto State Police Command, ASP Ahmad Rufa’i, issued a statement on Sunday morning. According to his account, the assailants, believed to be bandits, targeted the checkpoint in the village of Mamman Suka within the Gwadabawa Local Government area.

During the horrifying attack, the armed gunmen fatally shot two immigration officers, while some officers were taken as abductees. Swift action was taken to get the injured officers to safety, and they were immediately transported to the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto for urgent medical attention.

ASP Ahmad Rufa’i further revealed that the bandits made off with five rifles, which had been in the possession of the immigration officers who were stationed at the checkpoint. Authorities are now diligently accounting for these missing firearms at the immigration headquarters office in the state.

An anonymous eyewitness corroborated the disturbing incident, shedding light on the attackers’ modus operandi. According to the witness, the gunmen, suspected to be kidnappers, initiated the attack along the Sokoto/Illela road at approximately 7 pm on Friday. The assailants unleashed a hail of gunfire on the immigration checkpoint, creating chaos and leaving the officers in a vulnerable and perilous position.

• NIS Clears Passport Backlog of 60,000 Cases in Four Days
• ECOWAS vs Niger: A Proxy War Between US and Russia
• Army Rescue Kidnapped Victims, Neutralize Armed Bandits in Zamfara State
• Why Many Nigerians, Other Immigrants in Canada Struggle Financially” – Insights from an Immigration Job Placement Expert
• Former Provost, Son Rescued from Bandits in Zamfara State
• North-East Governors Condemn Rising Banditry, Accuse Local Authorities of Collaboration

Speaking about the severity of the situation, Bello Mohammed, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service Illela Border Command, stressed the urgency of providing medical care to the wounded officers. “We are currently in the hospital with the wounded,” he stated, emphasizing the critical need for immediate attention to the injured officers’ wellbeing.

In response to the alarming attack, the Sokoto State Police Command has initiated a thorough investigation to identify and apprehend the perpetrators. Security forces are working tirelessly to restore order and safeguard the residents in the area.

This appalling incident sheds light on the persisting security challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in the region, underscoring the imperative need for continued vigilance and comprehensive measures to address the escalating threat of banditry and criminal activities in Sokoto State.