By Tina George, Minna
Fresh bandit attack has claimed 15 lives in Ukuru village of Mariga local government area of Niger.
The attack, which occurred Wednesday afternoon, a source from the village said the incident seemed like a reprisal attack by the bandits.
It was learnt that some days ago, the bandits attempted to attack the village but the local vigilante repelled the attack, leading to the death of four of the bandits.
The gunmen in reprisal attack were said to have attacked, stormed the village with motorcycles shooting sporadically in the air and killing whoever came across their path.
The bandits also rustled some cattle of the villagers.
The Spokesperson of the Command, ASP Abiodun Wasiu confirmed the incident in a statement, saying that five people had been injured and taken to the hospital.
The attack is coming after Niger state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani-Bello, commended the efforts of security operatives in the fight against banditry in their Sahel operation.
The Governor who gave the commendation during an assessment tour to the Special Army Super Camp 4 in Faskari, Katsina had stated that life was returning to normal in some of the infected areas because people were now going to their farms and taking part in other businesses.
The Governor further stated that an army camp would be set up in the state to check bandit attacks.