Nine Killed As Bandits, Police, Vigilante Exchanges Fire In Niger State

Not less than one hundred and fifty cows, two hundred flocks of rustled sheep have been recuperated from some armed bandits in a community in Niger State.

Men of the Nigeria Police Force attached to the Rafi Local Government Area in Niger State, in conjunction with some members of the council security group reportedly engaged in an exchange of fire with bandits on Saturday, May 16, 2020, leading to the death of nine persons.

Naija News understands that no less than nine bandits were killed in the gun duel which reportedly happened lasted for about four hours.

According to a local witness, the bullet exchange which happened at two villages namely; Karaya Mahanga and Bakachi lead to the death of nine armed bandits on the early hour of Saturday, May 16.

The source who chose to remain anonymous revealed that three of the bandits were intercepted and lynched by an angry mob while they were trying to go through a town called Mekujeri.

Speaking on the successful operation, the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, ASP Wasiu Abiodun disclosed that the bandits have been causing unrest in the areas but that engagement of the police and local vigilante with them in the last operation leads to the death of nine.

He said, ” The DPO Kagara mobilised Operation PUFF Adder with some local vigilante to engage the armed bandits and this led to the killing of nine bandits who have been terrorising people of Rafi and its environs for quite a long time,”

On his part, the Chairman of the Rafi Local Government Area, Alh Ismaila Modibo, while responding to the development, advised residents of the council to remain calm as security operatives are doing their best to ensure normalcy is restored.

Meanwhile, Naija News had reported earlier that two people have reportedly died on Friday evening as cultists group engaged in a dirty fight in Calabar, the capital city of Cross River State.