NIGER: Bandits kill 20 vigilantes, one soldier in Kotonkoro

AT least 20 vigilantes were said to have been killed in Kotonkoro village of Mariga Local Government Area of the state by bandits.

The vigilantes were said to have run into an ambush laid by the bandits two days ago.

It was also gathered that the bandits attacked a military base, killed one soldier and injured another that same day.

The attack is coming barely three weeks after Governor Abubakar Sani Bello said it would not enter into negotiations with bandits but rather strengthen the security of the state.

Bello had visited the vigilante group and assured that government would equip them with high caliber weapons to enable them take the fight to the bandits.

Commandant of the vigilantes in the local government, Abu Hashimu, confirmed the killings.

Confirming the killing of some of his men, the commandant of the vigilantes in the local government, Abu Hashimu, said, “The slain vigilantes were returning from search operation when they were ambushed. 16 of them were killed on the spot while the bandits pursued four others who tried to escape and gunned them down also.”

He said the bodies of the deceased have been recovered and buried, adding that a joint security operation consisting of military and vigilantes has begun manhunt for the bandits.

It was further gathered that the combine security team has entered the Dutse Magajiya forest.

Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, confirmed the killings of the 20.

Matane also said the military post in the area was attacked and “we lost one soldier.”
Popular Islamic cleric, Sheik Ahmad Gumi, who has been advocating “blanket amnesty” for the bandits across the North West region, has on several occasions said the banits took to criminality to register their grievances against the government.

He said most them used to be law-abiding citizens until cattle rustlers and security operatives started attacking them.