Bandits have attacked three communities in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State, leaving at least 13 persons dead, including security operatives.
The affected communities include Kumbashi, Bangi and Mongoro.
It was gathered that the incident occurred on Tuesday around 4:00 pm when the gunmen stormed the villages armed with sophisticated weapons.
It was also learnt the gunmen who arrived on about 100 motorcycles, entered the area from Zamfara State.
Eyewitnesses said 13 people were killed, including one police officer and two vigilantes, while many others sustained various degrees of injuries.
A source in the area noted that the gunmen may have been seeking reprisal for a recent Air Force raid on their hideouts, which resulted in severe casualties in their camp.
The bandits also destroyed a communication mast, disrupting communication in the affected areas.
When contacted the chairman Mariga LGA, Alhaji Abbas Kasuwa Garba, confirmed the attack but could not provide an exact number of casualties due to prevailing tension in the area as a result of the continued presence of the gunmen.
Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, could not be reached as at the time of filing this report.
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