During a gunfight to stop an attack on some communities in the Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State on Saturday, bandits killed the Divisional Police Officer of the Paiko Division and four other police officers.
In a statement, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, said that some bandits tried to attack the Chibani market in the Munyan Local Government Area, but local vigilantes stopped them.
He explained that another group of criminals also tried to attack Lambata-area communities but were engaged in a gun battle with local security guards.
He added, “Similarly, around 11 a.m. on February 11, 2023, information was received that armed bandits were sighted in the area of Kwakuti-Dajigbe villages in Lambata, in an attempt to attack some communities around Gurara LGA.”
“Military, vigilante, and combined teams of police from Gawu-Babangida Division and Paiko Division were dispatched to the scene; Hundreds of the criminals were eliminated in a gun battle, while others managed to escape with bullet wounds.
The statement read, “Regrettably, DPO Paiko, SP Mukhtar Sabiu, and four other police personnel from both divisions died during the gun duel.”
According to Abiodun, the police officers’ bodies had been found.