JST neutralises 50 armed bandits in Niger
The Joint Security Taskforce has neutralised over 50 bandits in an airstrike in River Kusasu in the Shiroro Local Government Area of the state on Wednesday morning.
DAILY POST gathered that over 50 bandits were killed in an airstrike.
It was gathered that the gunmen met their end while attempting to escape the onslaught by security agencies led by the military in communities around Shiroro and Munya local government areas of the state.
The bandits, numbering over 300, were said to be fleeing from military operations in Kaduna and parts of Niger state to the other side of River Kasasu in a boat they had seized at gunpoint.]
The joint security taskforce bombed them, resulting in the death of about 50 of them.
Sources from the community said that approximately 50 bandits were killed, several sustained injuries, and some escaped unhurt during the onslaught.
They said that those who escaped crossed over to communities around Tsohon Kabula, Beni, and Gidan wire. Upon spotting the bandits, members of the communities fled for their safety.
Recall that the villagers recently returned to Tsohon Kabula and surrounding villages after many months of living in Internally Displaced People’s (IDPs) Camps in Sarkin Pawa following the restoration of peace in the areas.
According to a resident, Yonana Bulus, the gunmen have taken over abandoned homes and food barns left by the fleeing villagers. Some of the bandits allegedly stationed themselves at strategic locations, awaiting the arrival of the Joint Security Taskforce men and local vigilantes.
DAILY POST further learned that personnel of the Joint Security Taskforce stationed at Mangoro village, a route used by the gunmen to launch attacks on communities around Sarkin Pawa in Munya LG, are combing the bush in search of the fleeing criminals.
However, efforts to reach the state Permanent Secretary of Homeland Security, Alh. Tariq Abdulraheem, to confirm the report failed as of the time of filing this report.
