Troops of the Nigerian Army, backed by local vigilante forces, clashed with bandits in a protracted gun battle at Dare Biyu village, near Beri in Mariga Local Government Area, Niger State.
The exchange of fire, which lasted from about 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, ended with several bandits killed.
The military sources say the attackers reinforced their position using motorcycles and employed swift maneuvering to evade capture, though they were eventually suppressed by accurate fire.
Tragically, however, the operation was not without sacrifice. Two vigilante operatives, Yusuf Dan Basi and Bello Shagari, were killed in the firefight. Another vigilante, Naziru Lawal, was wounded by gunfire and has been taken to Beri Hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, the troops and vigilantes successfully evacuated civilians from the area and prevented a larger scale attack, despite being momentarily surrounded by reinforced bandit elements.
Security analysts are voicing concern over the fact that bandit cells remain active across several LGAs in Niger State, Mariga, Kontagora, Magama, Rijau, and Mashegu, and are calling for more robust responses.
Suggested measures include establishing mobile checkpoints, amplifying aerial reconnaissance, reinforcing transit corridors like the Beri Mariga Kontagora route, and launching offensive operations against identified hideouts. Citizens and local leaders are also urging for improved intelligence gathering and quicker response times to early warning signs.
