Bandits who attacked a community in Niger State have met a resistance by troops but in the shootout, three soldiers were killed while two of the attackers were gunned down.
A Chinese said to be a construction worker in the area was abducted by the fleeing assailants.
The shootout took place on Monday in Libale community in Magama local government area, The Nation learnt.
A military source said troops and other security agents were combing the mountains to which the bandits fled with the Chinese.
Governor Abubakar Sani Bello yesterday confirmed the killing of three soldiers after holding an emergency security meeting at Government House, Minna, the state capital.
He said the bodies of two bandits were recovered by the soldiers, adding that there will be more bandits affected in the shootout between the soldiers and bandits.
“Three Soldiers were killed by bandits and our security men are trailing them. I can assure you that they will be arrested soon. Some of the Bandits were killed as two bodies have been recovered so far.”
He disclosed that the bandits are being trailed by the Army expressing optimism that they will be arrested soon.
The governor further disclosed that residents of 25 communities affected by banditry have been resettled back to their communities.
“No fewer than 25 Communities have been resettled back in the villages. They were led back to their villages by the Soldiers. Now that the rain has started, the people who are predominantly farmers will go back to their farms and start planting.
“I have monitored the movement of IDPs to their villages today and everything has been going smoothly and there is no cause for alarm. We have gotten additional security personnel from Abuja to help secure our people.”
Source: The Nation