By Salim Yunusa
The Joint Security Taskforce in Niger state has continued to record more successes in its renewed war against the armed bandits with the killing of 15 of them in overnight operation on Friday, in Iburo, community in Shiroro local government area of the state.
Three of the bandits wearing military camouflage uniform were also arrested while a number of them escaped with serious bullets injuries.
This breakthrough is coming barely two weeks after the Joint Security Task Force neutralized no fewer than 10 bandits in Gurumana community in Shiroro local government area, and recovered about eight motorcycles.
A source close to the community said this is the first time security agents could made their presence felt in Iburo community, one of the most notorious and the epic center of bandits activities in Shiroro local government area.
According to him, activities of local informants who kept the bandits informed of the movement of security agents have made the war against the bandits extremely difficult in the area in recent time.
Our source pointed out that the arrest of a number of the informants, majority of them who confessed to be giving bandits’ information, has made the ongoing offensive against the gunmen possible, hence the successes recorded in the last two weeks.
He disclosed that the Joint Security Task Force had laid ambush in the community for the bandits all through the night, defying the Friday night heavy downpour before they were able to track the bandits down.
“As I speak with you now (Saturday morning), the bodies of the bandits killed are still littered in the bush, while those arrested have been taken to custody. The security agents are all out for the bandits this time around.
“Now the Security Agents are taking the fight to the bandits unlike before when they were being sold out to the bandits by informants, the latest offensive is yielding results,” he said.
Meanwhile The Niger State Police Command has confirmed the release of the abducted APC Zonal Chairman in the state, Alhaji Aminu Musa Bobi by his abductors.
The Zonal Chairman, who regained his freedom on Friday afternoon at about 3:30pm, was kidnapped alongside with his driver last week Saturday on his way to the farm, in Bobi, Marisa local government area of the state.
The Police Command could not confirm whether or not, ransom was paid for his release but a source close to the local vigilante in the area told our correspondent that N2million was paid by the family before he was released
