A joint operation by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the military in Niger State has resulted in the dislodging of scores of heavily armed bandits believed to be loyal to terrorist kingpins, Dogo Gide and Leyi.
Security sources disclosed that the operation began on Tuesday when the terrorists stormed Chibani village in Munya local government area of the state where they reportedly killed one Ayuba Isah and left two other persons, one policeman and one Alhaji Shuaibu, with gunshot injuries.
The source further said that on Wednesday, bandits said to be numbering over 200, brandishing sophisticated weapons, stormed a security base in Kuchi, a town in Munya LGA.
According to the source, the fierce gun battle that ensued led to the neutralising scores of the bandits, with many others fleeing with various degree of injuries.
The security source listed re-enforcement from Galadima Kogo to Kuchi as a major factor that helped weaken the bandits.
Another security source later claimed to see large herds of cattle, believed to have been rustled, crossing the Kusasu River in Galadima Kogo District of Shiroro LGA, advancing towards a place believed to be the bandits’ hideout in Borisudna/Kwaki axis in the LGA.
According to him, DSS operatives and troops of the Nigerian Army in the area had contacted the Nigeria Air Force for aerial support.
He expressed optimism that the Airforce would be able to smoke out the remnants of the fleeing bandits.
