The Security Special Squad inaugurated about a week ago by Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger state to combat bandits and release abducted Islamiya School children in Tegina, has killed five bandits and arrested three others during exchange of fire in another attack on the town.
Blueprint learnt that the attack occurred in the early hours of Thursday and that the squad successfully repelled the bandits inflicting fatal injuries on some.
It was also learnt that the remains of the neutralized bandits and those arrested were taken to Kagara Divissional Police headquarters where they were paraded to the public.
The squad was also reported to have recovered large numbers of cows rustled by the bandits.
A member of the community who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the bandits on motorcyles, carrying AK 47 rifles stormed the town and started shooting sporadically thereby putting fears in the people.
He said, “The bandits have rustled several cattle and dispossesed the people of their property before the squad intercepted them as they made to escape. The squad also succeeded in recovering the cattle rustled and took back the property of the villagers from the armed gunmen.”
Some of the bandits were however said to have escaped with gunshot injuries but are being traced by the security men.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the state police command, DSP Abiodun Wasiu could not be reached to confirm the report in Minna.
It would be recalled that Governor Abubakar Sani Bello last week launched a Special Task Force comprising of 1000 armed men to dislodge bandits from the Allawa and neighbouring forests where it is believed that the abducted Salihu Tanko Islamiyya pupils are being kept.
Bello had tasked the men of the Task force to ” take the battle to the bandits” and rescue the pupils from their clutches.
