By Ummi Ismaeel, Minna
A combined team of vigilante group and villagers on Sunday chased away suspected armed bandits, who invaded Fapo, Ebbo and Gulu community in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State.
The incident, which occurred at about 11am, led to the death of four of the gunmen, while two were arrested by the locals.
Eyewitness said that the gunmen, mostly youths of under-20 years with sophisticated weapons emerged from the nearby bush and started shooting sporadically into the air.
While the shooting lasted, the source, who is also from Gulu, said the community stood still.
He narrated: “Some of our people had gone to the church and at about 11am, we started hearing gun shots from a particular area along one of the thick forests.
“We quickly mobilised and with the combined efforts of our people and the vigilante, we challenged the gunmen.
“Though it was very difficult and risky; by the mercy of Allah we managed to bring down four of them and we followed after the remaining ones and they disappeared through the same way they came”.
According to him, “the entire Gulu community was thrown into pandemonium, it was more like war, the sound of sophisticated guns as members of vigilante exchanged fire with bandits terrorising Gulu, Fapo, down to Ebbo communities making life difficult for our people.”
The source, who spoke to our correspondent on phone said, “After over an hour battle, four of the bandits were killed; the arrested two others are now with the police. May Allah continue to expose them wherever they are and may they continue to meet their waterloo”.
All efforts to get the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Niger State Command, Wasiu Abiodun, react to the latest bandits’ attack proved abortive as at the time of the report. His phone numbers were indicating “unreacheable.”