Six bandits shot dead in Niger

The Niger State Police Command recorded a major breakthrough in its fight against banditry as six bandits were shot dead during a gun battle in Garkogo, Shiroro Local Government Area of the state.

Scores of the bandits were said to have also escaped with serious bullets wound, leaving behind their motorcycles.

The bandits were said to have defied the Ramadan fast to launch an attack on some villages around Garkogo but met their waterloo in the hands of the mobile policemen who had laid ambush for them on receiving information about their operation.

The mobile policemen were those stationed at Garkogo town after ceaseless attacks on the people by the bandits.

The bandits were said to have shot and killed a villager before the policemen engaged them in a fierce gun battle at about 3:30 in the morning on Saturday.

This is one of the major successes recorded by the Joint Security Task Force in the state.

The development comes barely three weeks after five soldiers and one policeman were killed in Allawa after the bandits attacked their base.

A source close to Garkogo community told our correspondent that four of the bandits were killed on the spot while bodies of two others, who died from bullet wounds, were recovered from a farm in the afternoon.

According to the source, there was no casualty on the side of the policemen.

The State police command is yet to react to the report as the Spokesman, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, did not pick his calls or respond to his messages.