President Muhammadu Buhari has decreed a military crackdown on bandits terrorising communities in Niger State.
This was revealed in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity Garba Shehu yesterday.
Shehu said the President sent a directive to launch a major military campaign in the Northcentral state to the Defence Headquarters (DHQ).
The President’s order came barely two weeks after the Federal Government published the court order classifying bandits, kidnappers and others as terrorists into a Gazette.
The order also came on a day that gunmen killed three and abducted 28 people in Farin-Shinge, Kulho, Jigawa, Dogo Fadama communities of Mashegu local government areas of Niger State.
The rampaging gunmen allegedly demanded for seven 50 litres of fuel, packs of Viju Milk and other drinks as a ransom for the abductees from Farin-Shinge community.
Niger State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Wasiu Abiodun, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) confirmed the attack in Jigawa and Kulho communities.
He said 15 people were abducted in the Kulho attack “on 14/01/2022 at about 1300hrs, suspected armed bandits/terrorists entered Mashegu village through Jigawa area of Mashegu and rustled a yet to be ascertained number of cattle, while they broke a provision shop at Kawo village.
