SP Mukhtar Abiodun, the Paiko Divisional Police Officer Mukhtar Sabiu, and four other personnel were killed on Saturday during a gun battle with bandits in Gurara Local Government Area in Niger State.
He had led his men to dislodge armed bandits who were around Kwakuti-Dajigbe villages in Lambata preparing to attack some communities around Gurara Local Government Area.
Police spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun confirmed this in a statement.
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It read:
“Combined teams of police from Gawu-Babangida and Paiko Divisions, military, and vigilante members were drafted to the scene.
“The hoodlums were engaged in a gun duel and repelled with scores of them neutralised, while others escaped with bullet injuries.
“Regrettably, DPO Paiko Division, Superintendent of Police (SP) Mukhtar Sabiu, and four other police personnel from both divisions lost their lives during the gun duel.”
The spokesman added that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ogundele Ayodeji, later led a reinforcement team to the scene and recovered the bodies of the deceased personnel.
While condoling with the families of the affected personnel, Ayodeji reassured the public that the police would ensure the elimination of banditry and other forms of criminality in the state.
