Terrorists have reportedly killed a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and four other Police officers in the Munya, and Gurara Local Government Areas of Niger State.
It is further reported that the victims were killed in a shootout with bandits who attempted to invade communities in the said LGAs.
ASHENEWS gathered that Alhassan Ijakoro, one of the officers, was killed in Gurara LGA.
The Police Command spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, in a statement on Sunday, confirmed that the officers were able to repel the attack on a market in Munya LGA on Friday.
According to him, the Police also engaged the bandits during an attack on communities in Gurara LGA on Saturday.
He identified the slain DPO as Mukhtar Sabiu in charge of Paiko Division.
“Regrettably, the DPO of the Paiko Division, SP Mukhtar Sabiu and four other police personnel from both divisions lost their lives during the gun duel.
“On 10/02/2023 at about 1500hrs, suspected armed bandits/insurgents attempted to attack the Chibani village market via Sarkin-Pawa, Munya LGA.
“Police tactical teams and vigilante members mobilized to the market where the hoodlums were routed and successfully repelled without any havoc, though the situation caused some panic but normalcy was restored.
“Similarly, on 11/02/2023 at about 1100hrs, information was received that armed bandits were sighted around Kwakuti-Dajigbe villages area of Lambata, in an attempt to attack some communities around Gurara LGA.
“Combined teams of police from Gawu-Babangida Div and Paiko Div, military, and vigilante members were drafted to the scene, the hoodlums were engaged in a gun duel and repelled with scores of them being neutralized, while others escaped with bullet injuries,” the statement reads.
Abiodun said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ogundele Ayodeji, led a team to the location to recover the bodies of the officers.
Ayodeji assured that the command will intensify its efforts in the fight against banditry.
