Operatives of the Department of State Services and troops of the Nigerian Army have neutralised no fewer than 45 terrorists wreaking havoc in some border communities in Niger State.
Specifically, security forces killed the terrorists at Iburu village located in the Shiroro Local Government Area of the state last Friday when an intelligence by the DSS unearthed the activities of the criminals in the area.
The onslaught by the security forces against terrorists in the border towns was launched following the alarm raised by the Nigeria Customs Service that its personnel were under constant terrorists’ attacks in the town.
In April, Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, had raised the alarm over terrorist activities around the Babanna border in Niger State – a community sharing border with Benin Republic.
The Customs boss had said his men were lucky to have survived an ambush by the terrorists who were angered by the seizure of 500 jerrycans of petrol smugglers were delivering to them.
Security sources disclosed on Monday that following an intelligence gathered that the terrorists riding several motorcycles were advancing to attack Iburu and neighbouring villages, the DSS quickly alerted soldiers on standby.
According to one of the sources, there was exchange of gunfire between the troops and terrorists, resulting in the killing of no fewer than 45 terrorists during the encounter.
Two operatives were however said to have paid the supreme price while four others were injured.
The source said, “The villagers confirmed that they counted at least 40 dead bodies believed to be those of the bandits. They also counted dozens of the bandits’ motorcycles destroyed during the gunfight.
“Two members of the hybrid forces fighting alongside soldiers lost their lives, while four others were receiving treatment for serious gunshot injuries at a public hospital in the state capital.”
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Nigerian Army nor the DSS had spoken officially on the operation.
