.Four bandits have been neutralised and three riffles recovered by the Niger state police command in a pierce battle at Magama and Borgu local government councils of the state. This is contained in a statement in Minna by the Police Public Relations Officer Niger state command DSP Wasiu Abiodun and made available to Newsmen.According to the statement a distress call was received from Maje village on Nasko Magama Local Government Council that some suspected bandits were making efforts to invade a residence in the village thus the police tactical teams attached to Nasko Division were immediately mobilized to the Area.He said on sighting the police teams, the hoodlums opened fire at them and a gun duel ensued, as a result one bandits was neutralized and his AK-49 rifle was recovered from the scene, while others escaped to the forest with bullet wounds. DSP Wasiu Abiodun however explained that the teams are still on the trail of the hoodlums for possible arrest of other survivors. Also acting on a tip-off that some suspected armed bandits who had kidnapped a driver few days ago on Kuka-Babanna road, in New-Bussa headquarters of Borgu Local Government Council arranged to collect ransom for the release of an abducted driver jjoint tactical teams of Police, Military and local vigilantes mobilized and trailed the hoodlums to a nearby forest.They engaged the bandits in a gun battle in which three among the hoodlums were neutralized scores of them escaped with gunshot injuries in which one pump action rifle with four cartridges and two single barrel guns were recovered. The driver was rescued unhurt and he was immediately taken to a nearby hospital for medical assessment and examination, while further effort is ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects.Four suspects were also arrested for vandalisation of communication mast and theft of inverter batteries in Lavun Local Government Council of Niger state.REL ALIYU LAWAL
