NAF helicopter Shot down,50 bandits reportedly killed by Security operatives in Niger state
The security operatives among them a senior officer in one of the forces were made up of men of the nations security forces and those of the local vigilante group.
The incident occured around Kundu in the Rafi local government area of the state.
It was gathered that not less than 10 other security men were injured in the face off with bandits.
According to the source about 50 bandits were killed in the encounter with their bodies left in the forest while those that were injured were ferried away by members of their gang.
It was gathered that an helicopter was used to pick the dead and who were first deposited at the Federal Medical Centre Zingeru before the vehicle came this Monday morning to evacuate the corpses to unknown destination.
According to the eyewitness it was possible that the slain security men were from either Kaduna or Maiduguri deployed to neutralize bandits that have been terrorizing residents in Rafi and Wushishi local government areas of the state in recent times.
However it was learnt that the operation leaked to the bandits resulting in their laying ambush for the security operatives and the high casualty figure on the part of the regular security men.
As a result of the incident civilians in Akere , Kundu, and neighbourhood have abandoned their homes and are now taking refuge in Zingeru town.
All efforts to get confirmation of the story was abortive as the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Internal Security Alhaj Tareek Abdulrahim did not pick several calls made to his phone
An officer at the 31 Artillery Brigade in Minna directed Our Correspondent to the Director of Communication of the Nigeria Army saying ” We are not allowed to speak to the Press, please contact Abuja”
Meanwhile palpable fear has gripped residents of Zungeru as a result of the incident because it is believed that remnants of the bandits are still in the forest.
Reports reaching us from Chikuba in the Shiroro local government area of Niger state has it that the Dogo gide terrorists group shot down a military helicopter on Monday afternoon.
There has been no report yet of casualty as a result of the incident.
The Dogo gide terrorist group according to reports operates in the forests in Zamfara, Niger and Kaduna states.
It was learnt that immediately the terrorists shot down the helicopter the military has started responding by bombarding the positions of the terrorists killing many of the bandits in the process
The reaction of the military has caused panic around Chikuba town leading to hundreds of villagers flocking to Erena for safety.
The Co Convener of the Concerned Shiroro Youth, Comrade Abubakar Yussuf Kokki speaking to Nigeria Daily Post correspondent confirmed the story saying ” there is panic and fear among the people
” The people are moving in large numbers to Erena for safety” Kokki said.
The Army in Minna has not commented on the attack yet.
However it was gathered that about 13 soldiers and some men of the local vigilante group were killed on Sunday afternoon.
It was also gathered that the soldiers succeeded in killing not less than 50 of the terrorists .
