Security operatives repel attack on Niger communities, kill eight gunmen

Security operatives killed eight gunmen who attacked communities in Niger state on Saturday.

Mary Noel-Berje, chief press secretary to the state governor, confirmed the development in a statement on Monday.

According to the statement, Emmanuel Umar, commissioner for local government, confirmed the attack after an emergency meeting at the government house in Minna, the state capital.

Umar said the gunmen attacked villages in three communities of Wushishi, Mashegu, and some parts of Kutigi in Lavun LGA at the weekend.

“The commissioner explained that eight of the gunmen were killed and others rounded up after the heavy security presence along Wushishi routes forced them to move through Lavun and Mashegu local governments attacking some communities,” the statement reads.

“The conventional and nonconventional security operatives engaged the bandits during which eight were killed.

“The criminals were believed to have moved over to Wushishi local government were they attacked communities like Akere, and the rest and then moved over knowing that there are security measures put in place in the routes. They moved to Lavun local government, from there, they touched part of Kutigi the headquarters of the local government operating within the flanks of River Kaduna axis.”

While commenting on the recent bomb blast in Galadima Kogo community, the commissioner said the government is yet to receive reports from the police but confirmed that the incident recorded no casualty.

According to him, “in a period like this, there are anxieties and panicking, it is natural but government will always respond to credible information appropriately”.

“Criminals are in our space, it is our responsibility to flush them out and we are not relenting, we are determined to do that,” he added.

“The security operatives and community members are also more committed now to see that these criminals are wiped out.”