Military, vigilantes repel bandits’ attack in Niger State

Sarkin Pawa, the headquarters of Munya Local Government Area of Niger State, was on Thursday afternoon saved from bandits’ attack by the combined efforts of the military and vigilantes.

Sarki Pawa is where people displaced by the insurgents are taking refuge.

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It was learnt that around 1pm, bandits invaded Sarkin Pawa with sophisticated weapons.

But the Nigerian Air Force combined with that of members of Vigilante Corps, helped in repelling the attack.

Sources, who spoke with Daily Trust on the telephone, said the military and vigilantes engaged the bandits in a gun battle.

Daily Trust, however, learnt that the bandits killed one man when they entered the town and started shooting sporadically afterwards.

Some other people were injured in the battle that lasted for about an hour.

The bandits were said to have escaped after the military and vigilantes overwhelmed them.

The co-Convener, Concerned Shiroro Youths, Sani Abubakar Kokki, who also confirmed the attack, said the casualty figure is unknown.

“The bandits were forcefully chased out of the town. After a fierce gun battle, the deadly criminals withdrew from the town. The casualty figure is however still sketchy at the moment,” he said.

Meanwhile, effort to get confirmation from the state police command was unsuccessful as all calls and text messages sent to the Police spokesman, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, were not answered.