Prior to their capture, over 500 bandits from Kaduna State's Birnin-Gwari axis had raided several communities in Mariga in a convoy of about 100 motorcycles, PRNigeria reports.
The Nigerian Army has rescued over 2000 cows after a gun battle with armed bandits in Niger State's Mariga Local Government Area.
Prior to their capture, over 500 bandits from Kaduna State's Birnin-Gwari axis had raided several communities in Mariga in a convoy of about 100 motorcycles, PRNigeria reports.
According to Adamu Warari, a local community leader, the terrorists, wielding dangerous firearms, had operated "freely" in several communities, razing places of worship, looting houses, killing men, abducting women, and rustling cattle before security agencies were alerted.
Adamu Warari said: “The bandits came through Birnin-Gwari crossing to Mariga, Kasuwan Garba, part of Kontagora, Kwimo and then cross Magadan Daji, Yungo, Argida and Chubadi where they continued to mop up hundreds of cattle before they were intercepted by troops from Bangi at Kwimo".
A defence intelligence source confirmed the development, noting that the military air task force and ground troops intercepted the terrorists and cattle in the Bangi axis before they could be moved to a forest in Birnin-Gwari.
"Upon receiving intelligence on the movement of the bandits with the rustled cows, aircraft from the Nigerian Airforce as well as ground troops of the Nigerian Army in Warari, but stationed in Bangi, were mobilized.
"The NAF jet bombed their escape routes leading to their hideouts while the ground troops shell the terrorists from vantage positions. Scores of the bandits were killed while two very gallant soldiers sustained injury and they are currently recuperating at a medical facility," the defence source added.