No fewer than 500 cattle rustled and eight motorcycles abandoned by gunmen during a gun duel have been recovered by the operatives of the Niger State Police Command in Paikoro, Munya, and Wushishi Local Government Areas of the state.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, made the disclosure via a statement issued on Friday.

Abiodun disclosed that all the attacks launched by the gunmen in various parts of the state were successfully repelled by the police operatives.

He stated that the suspected bandits, on Wednesday, attacked the residents of Kaffin-Koro in Paikoro LGA, noting that two persons sustained bullet injuries while some cattle were rustled.

According to him, the rustled cattle were abandoned by the assailants and recovered, while the injured victims were taken to General Hospital in Kaffin-Koro for treatment.

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He stated that the gunmen, on Monday, rustled an unspecified number of cattle from Akare, Jiwawa, Gulanji, Kadaura, adding that the police and military tactical teams mobilised and responded swiftly to the scene and engaged the bandits in a gun battle.

“As a result, the bandits abandoned the looted cattle and some of their motorcycles as they scampered in disarray for safety with bullet injuries into the forest,” the police spokesman noted.

Abiodun further stated that the bandits, same Monday, attacked Chibani village in Munya LGA, saying police and military tactical teams and vigilante members were sent to the area and engaged the bandits in a gun battle.

“The hoodlums were successfully repelled and they abandoned the rustled cattle, as they fled through Rishi Village Kaduna. Unfortunately, two members among the local vigilante lost their lives during the gun fight,” he said.

The Star