TUNDE BOLAJI – MINNA.
The Joint task force security has again naturalized bandits who has hitherto held hostage some communities in Munya local government area of Niger state for days now.
According to our sources many terrorists who attacked villages in Munya local government area in the last three days have been gunned down by security forces deployed by the Niger state government
The outlaws, who recently had a field day kidnapping, looting and pillaging some communities in the local government were met by superior fire power when joint security forces coordinated by the state government, engaged them in fierce gun duel.
It was also confirmed that many of the terrorists have met their waterloo at the encounter.
“Several of them were killed and others have escaped with life threatening gunshots,” said a security source who witnessed the encounter.
This development followed the closed door meeting the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Internal Security, Hon Emmanuel Umar had with community and political leaders and other professionals from Munya, to assure them government was on top of the situation.
The commissioner confirmed the development to Newsmen in Minna said that goverment will work closely with communities to address challenges of insecurity in the state.
He said the meeting with the community leaders afforded useful interaction and sharing of information and strategies on how best to tackle the monstrous activities of terrorists invading communities in the local government.
Hon Emmanuel Umar said the use of vigilantes to protect communities was still a dependable option, considering the terrain and nature of the communities.
He disclosed that yesterday’s success of security agents against the terrorists was cheering news, assuring that government will pursue and revenge any attack on its people wherever they are.
“This recent onslaught against the terrorists will continue and thank God a lot of successes have been recorded.
“We previously dealt them serious blow at Kundu forest and again at Mariga recovering cows and motorcycles. Now this Munya success is cheering news,” he remarked
The commissioner also bemoaned the activities of informants, saying they have posed a greater challenge than anything else in combating insecurity and ending the menace.
“If we or genuine members of the communities can get rid of informants or stop the informants from conniving with the terrorists, then, we would have solved 70 percent of these insecurity problems,” he emphasized.
He said the attacks in Munya villages was unfortunate, pointing out that close collaboration will be forged between communities, local government authorities and the state in responding quickly to threats of attacks by the criminal gangs in all affected areas.
It was unfortunate that two of the vigilantes lost their lives during the encounter, the commissioner added.
