Efforts by the Joint police and vigilante team in Niger state to end the siege by bandits in Rafi Local Government Council of the state has led to the gunning down of nine bandits during exchange of fire between them and the team.
Duaglobalnews reports that attacks by armed has led to the loss of hundreds of lives and property worth millions of naira destroyed in some L
local Glgovernment arras of state besides cases of rape of women and their children by the undesirable elements.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO),for the Police Command in the state, ASP Wasiu Abiodun, who confirmed the killings to journalists on Saturday in Minna said the incident took place in Karaya, Mahanga and Bakachi villages in the early hour of Saturday.
The bandits, according to the PPRO, has engaged the combined police and local vigilante in a gun battle at Makujeri village, a distance of less than four kilometres from Kagara, the headquarters of Rafi Local Government Area.
He said the feat was made possible by the determination of the police and vigilante group, in the area, to end the reign of terror on the communities by the bandits whose activities had made residents to be sleeping with one eye open.
Abiodun, however, told journalists that Kagara DPO had mobilized Operation Puff Adder, fast enough, to end the activities of the criminals.
The police image maker explained that with the combine efforts of some local vigilantes, the bandits were engaged in fireworks which brought down nine of them.
“Rafi and its environs have known no peace for a long time and this prompted the joint operation and at the end, nine of the bandits died.
“Three of them ran toward Mekujeri village but were intercepted, lynched and burnt beyond recognition by the angry mob,” Abiodun said.
Apart from killing of nine of the bandits,Abiodun also said that 150 of cattle and 200 sheep rustled by the criminals were recovered from bandits during the gun duel which lasted many hours.
The Chairman of Rafi Local Government Area, Alhaji Ismaila Modibo, who also confirmed the incident, advised the affected communities not to panic but cooperate with security forces by providing them with useful information that would end the attacks in the area.
The Chief of Staff, the Government House, Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe who visited the scene of the attack, urged the the people to remain calm.
He assured them of the commitment of the Abubarkar Sani Bello-led administration to rid the state of all forms of criminal elements.
