Security Operatives in Niger State have killed dozens of bandits terrorising communities in Munya and Shororo Local Government Areas of the state.
The operations were said to have led to the interception of over 500 animals at Kuchi, Galadiman- Kogo, Allawa and Erena communities of Munya and Shiroro local governments areas of the state.
Daily Trust reports that the animals were conveyed to Minna, the state capital, in the company of local hunters.
Five of the cows died before arriving in Minna due to the congestion in the truck and the distance covered.
The Commissioner of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Internal Security, Emmanuel Umar, said the animals recovered consisted of over 300 cows and over 100 sheep.
He said they would be kept under the care of the State Ministry of Livestock.
He said while many bandits were neutralized, some security operatives also lost their lives though he declined to give the number of security men who lost their lives.
He said arrangements had been made to take care of the families of the slain security operatives.
The Commissioner noted that the state government had also concluded plans to establish a committee to fashion out modalities to identify the real owners of the intercepted animals or otherwise auction them and remit the proceeds to the state treasury.
Mr Umar noted that the onslaught on bandits in the state would be sustained until the state was rid of bandits, animal rustlers, kidnapping and other criminal elements.
However, Daily Trust gathered that Niger State Police Command had already received fighting equipment from the Force High Command to strengthen the ongoing onslaught on bandits.
The Niger State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed that the Command “received some crime-fighting equipment and five (5) operational vehicles, including two (2) gun-trucks from the Police High Command.”
He said there was hope that the vehicles and the equipment would assist the Command in the fight against banditry and other acts of criminality in the State.
