The Divisional Police Officer for Paiko police station, in Niger State, Superintendent of Police Mukhtar Abbas and four other policemen have been killed by bandits in Niger state.
The policemen were killed when they were mobilised to counter an attack on the Kwakuti Djadugbe Market on Saturday.
Police Public Relations Officer, Niger State Police Command, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, who confirmed the tragedy in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday, however said some of the bandits were neutralised.
According to Abiodun, the command has already sent a reinforcement team to the scene and recovered the bodies of the deceased personnel.
He said the command had condoled with the families of the affected personnel, reassuring members of the public that the Command will not relent in the fight against banditry and other criminalities in the State.
In a related development, Abiodun said at about 3pm on Friday suspected armed bandits/insurgents attempted to attack the Chibani village market via Sarkin-Pawa, Munya LGA
He said the Police tactical teams and vigilante members were mobilized to the market where the hoodlums were routed and successfully repelled without any havoc, though the situation caused some panic but normalcy was restored.
