The people of Fapo, Ebbo and Gulu community in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State on Sunday foiled attempts by armed bandits who attempted taking over their community as they engaged the intruders in a fierce battle.
The incident, which was said to have occurred about 11a.m when some of the residents had gone to church and others to their businesses, Daily Independent learnt, led to the killing of four of the bandits by the local vigilantes who were quickly alerted on sighting the men.
An eyewitness told Daily Independent that the gunmen, mostly youths under 20 years, wielding sophisticated weapons, emerged from the nearby bush and started shooting sporadically into the air.
While the shooting lasted, the source, who is also from Gulu, said they all ran helter-skelter while also quickly alerting the local vigilantes who responded immediately and engaged the intruders in a fierce battle notwithstanding the superior firepower of the bandits.
The eyewitness said: “Some of our people had gone to the church and at about eleven we started hearing gunshots coming from a particular area along one of the thick forests. “We quickly mobilised and, with the combined efforts of our people and the vigilantes, challenged the gunmen.
“Though it was very difficult and risky, by the mercy of Allah we managed to bring down five of them and we followed after the remaining ones and they disappeared through the same way they came.”
According to him, the entire Gulu community was thrown into pandemonium as though it was in a war, with the sound of sophisticated guns booming as the vigilantes exchanged fire with the bandits.
The bandits have been terrorising Gulu, Fapo, down to Ebbo communities, making life difficult for the people. The source, who spoke to our correspondent on phone, said: “After over an hour of battle, four of the bandits were killed, two others were arrested and they are now with the police.
“May Allah continue to expose them wherever they are and may they continue to meet their waterloo.” All efforts to get the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Niger State Command, Wasiu Abiodun, to respond to enquiries on the latest attack proved abortive as at press time.
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