Troops kills 200 terrorists in Niger, lose 2, recover rustled cows
Troops has killed 200 terrorists and bandits in Niger state in three days gun duel in the Bida emirate and other parts of the state.
Niger state Commissioner of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Internal security Emmanuel Umar stated this Wednesday while briefing journalists in Minna.
He said that two gallant officers lost their lives in the encounter.
The commissioner who was elated at the success recorded by the security agencies, said most of the cows earlier rustled by the bandits had been returned to their owners while over 60 were recovered.
He said four commanders of the terrorists were also killed in the battle, while several others escaped with gunshot injuries.
He said: “Yesterday, our Joint Security Taskforce engaged groups of terrorists that have been terrorising us for the past few days.. We believed that these groups belong to notorious commander, Ali Kayaje, Yellow Chabros, Katchalla Halilu and Bello Turechi. Most of their commanders were neutralised.”
Umar said troops had commenced mop-up operations in the general area of the operations within the state in order to track down fleeing and wounded bandits and terrorists.
The commissioner further said: “I want to use this medium to salute our community people who stood their ground, form resilience to defend their land.”
Umar said “the battle began Sunday and has been raging in Kudu axis, Rafi – Wushishi axis and Baban laba axis of Mariga area of the state”.
He explained that the new strategies employed in the battle against terrorists in Niger stare were beginning to yield successful results, adding “in this fight even women stood and fought.”
When asked about the claim that traditionalists, marabouts and witches participated in the war to achieve such victory, the commissioner said security issues should not be trivialised.
Paying tributes to security personnel who died in the battle, he assured “they will not die in vain. The life of every personnel means a lot to us and we sympathise with their families.”
