The Nigerian Police Special Unit, Operation PUFF ADDER Saturday killed 10 bandits in gun battle in Kundu village in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger state.
The bandits were reported to have attack the police base recently established in the village due to incessant attacks and kidnap of a Royal father.
It was learnt that the police however lost two of its men in the battle which lasted for over two hours., while several other bandits reportedly escaped with bullets injuries.
A witness who pleaded anonymity said, “The Bandits numbering over 100, and riding on about 30 motorcycles, invaded the Police camp situated at a primary school in Kundu village about two kilometers from Zungeru town at about 10am on Saturday and opened fire on the Policemen.”
He said that the police who had been put on alert that the bandits were moving towards their direction in large numbers to attack the camp, strategically positioned themselves before the arrival of the bandits.
He explained that the bandits emerged from a maize farm, 50 meters from the PUFF ADDER camp which they used as a cover to lunch the attack on the policemen.
According to him, “after about two hours of heavy fighting, 10 of the bandits were killed and their bodies successfully evacuated by their members. Some of them were moving the bodies of those killed while others engaged the policemen in the gun battle. A woman was among the bandits killed and her body also taken away”.
Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has commended the gallant policemen for successfully repelling the bandits attack.
During a visit to the scene on Sunday, the Governor while sympathising with the families of those that paid the supreme sacrifice, assured security agencies of the government supports in the fight against armed bandits in the state.
He commended the resilience and braveness of the Operation PUFF ADDER in repelling the attack on the village, saying that the government has ordered for some equipment that will make the fight against those he described as “criminal elements” easier.
He said, “We have ordered for some equipment that will reduce casualties on the side of our security agents and make the fight against these criminals easier. Very soon those equipment will arrive”.
While assuring them that their efforts in ensuring the peace and security of the state will not be in vain, adding the government will do whatever it can to support the families of those policemen killed in the attack.
He announced the donation of a cow to each of the police and Military camps across the state to enable them celebrate sallah away from their families.
