DSS, Military repel bandits attack in Niger, kill many

In a bold counter-offensive, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian military have successfully dislodged scores of armed bandits in Niger State, believed to be loyalists of notorious terrorist kingpins Dogo Gide and Leyi.

The joint operation, which began on Tuesday, was launched in response to a deadly attack in Chibani village, located in Munya Local Government Area (LGA).

During the assault, the terrorists killed a resident identified as Ayuba Isah and left two others a police officer and a community leader, Alhaji Shuaibu critically injured by gunfire.

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By Wednesday, the situation escalated as more than 200 armed bandits, wielding sophisticated weapons, launched another assault on a security base in Kuchi, also within Munya LGA. However, security forces responded swiftly with a coordinated operation that pushed the attackers back, neutralized several of them, and reclaimed control of the area.

According to the source, the fierce gun battle that ensued led to the neutralising of scores of the bandits, with many others fleeing with various degrees of injuries.

The security source listed reinforcement from Galadima Kogo to Kuchi as a major factor that helped weaken the bandits.

Another security source later claimed seen large herds of cattle, believed to have been rustled, crossing the Kusasu river in Galadima Kogo District, Shiroro LGA, advancing towards a place believed to be their hideout in Borisudna/Kwaki axis in the same Shiroro.

He said DSS operatives and soldiers of the Nigerian Army in the area had contacted the Nigeria Air Force for aerial support and expressed optimism that the Air Force would be able to smoke out the remainder of the fleeing bandits.