At least forty-seven bandits terrorising Shiroro communities in Niger State have been killed by local hunters.
The hunters, in a sting-like operation, raided a ‘riverside’ community in Magami, situated between Shiroro and Rafi local government areas, on Wednesday and killed the bandits.
A source told newsmen that the community, which is close to a river, has been used as hideouts by bandits, who also established their camps in the axis.
According to a Police intelligence officer, who asked not to be mentioned, confirmed that several bandits also fled with gunshot wounds, aside from those killed.
“I can tell you for a fact that the bandits met their waterloo. At least 47 of them were eliminated by the hunters who participated in the operation”, he said.
It could not be confirmed if the hunters are part of the recently inaugurated Niger Special Vigilante Corps, (NSVC), which was formulated by the police and the State government to streamline the activities of all local security outfits into one special corps.
During the inauguration of the Corps in June 2021, the State governor, Abubakar Sani-Bello, said the activities of banditry would not intimidate the people or the government as they would not allow bandits to change the style of living of the people.
