Operatives of the Nigerian Army deployed to flush out gunmen who had laid siege on some communities in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State over the weekend gunned down 30 armed rustlers.
Israel Ebije, the Chief Press Secretary to the state Governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, confirmed to journalists in Minna, the state capital, that the death toll in the operation to dislodge the gunmen from the communities had risen to 30.
It should be recalled that the gunmen had attacked communities in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State over the past week.
It was reliably gathered that about 11 of the gunmen were killed last week when the soldiers were first deployed to the area in the wake of consistent attacks on villagers by the gunmen.
Ebije said the gunmen were confirmed to be armed rustlers and that the security operatives had successfully repelled them from the communities.
He added: “The security agencies have done a very good job and we want to thank them for restoring peace to the area.
“We appreciate the efforts of our security agencies in this regard.”
It should be noted that over 45 armed bandits were reported to have attacked Aza and Kintako communities in Lapai local Government Area of Niger State before the deployment of soldiers to contain the menace.
Accordingly, Ebije said: “The men of the Nigerian army have done a very good job in flushing the armed rustlers who invaded Aza and Kintako communities in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State.”