Bandits Gun Down DPO, Four Other Policemen In Niger

A Divisional Police Officer, Mukhtar Sabiu, and four other Policemen were killed on Saturday by bandits in Paiko, headquarters of Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State.

According to Punch, a resident of the area, Musa Idris, who narrowly escaped, said the victims were shot dead along Kwakuti village, Minna-Suleja road.

In a statement on Sunday, the Niger State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, said the DPO and his men were killed during a gun battle with the bandits.

He further stated that another set of bandits had tried to attack Chibani Market in Munyan Local Government Area around Lambata and was killed by local vigilantes while some escaped with bullet injuries.

Abiodun further stated that the bodies of the deceased officer had been recovered.

He said: “Similarly, on Saturday, at about 11 am, information was received that bandits were sighted around the Kwakuti-Dajigbe area of Lambata, in an attempt to attack some communities around the Gurara LGA.

“Combined teams of police from Gawu-Babangida Div and Paiko Div, military, and vigilante members were drafted to the scene, the bandits were engaged in a gun duel and repelled with scores of them being neutralised, while others escaped with bullet injuries.

“Regrettably, the DPO, Paiko, SP Mukhtar Sabiu, and four other policemen from both divisions lost their lives during the gun duel”