Two vigilantes were shot dead during a gun battle with bandits in Mayaki community, Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State.
Mayaki shares boundaries with Gwaje, a community in Abaji Area Council of the Federal Capital territory.
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Locals said the incident happened on Sunday at about 10:23 am when some vigilantes on patrol were ambushed by bandits in the area.
A resident of the community, who simply introduced himself as Ahmadu, said the vigilantes engaged the bandits in a shoot-out, during which two vigilante members were killed.
He said the bandits later ran away when they discovered that vigilantes from a neigbouring Kapako village had been mobilised.
The Commander of Niger State Vigilante Corps, Lapai division, Muhammadu Ibrahim confirmed the death of the two vigilantes.
“It is true that we lost two of our men during a patrol in ambush by the bandits around Mayaki forest,” he said.
“As I speak with you, we have mobilised all our members and we have launched a manhunt for the criminals,” he added.
The police spokesman in Niger State, ASP Wasiu Abiodun, did not respond to phone calls nor reply to text messages sent to him.
