Unknown gunmen have reportedly killed a policeman and seven members of a local vigilance group in Kusherki community in Rafi local government area of Niger state.
It was learnt that they recieved distress calls that the community was under the siege of suspected hoodlums and they were ambushed by gunmen on their way to the village.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that there was an exchange of gunfire between the security men and unknown gunmen which lasted for three hours and a policeman reportedly lost his life in the incident.
“Policemen were said to have received a distress call that some armed cattle rustlers had invaded Lamba Waya village at Pandogari, which prompted the deployment of a joint team of police, civil defence personnel and vigilance group members to track down the hoodlums.
Witnesses said the gunmen men escaped with the rustled cattle leaving seven vigilantes and one policeman dead.
Reacting to the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Muhammad Abubakar confirmed the incident and disclosed that the cattle rustlers were also badly injured during the exchange of gunfire.
He revealed that security forces had been drafted to the area with a view to apprehending the culprits.
“Our men are following the blood trails and combing the areas as we speak, “ Abubakar said.
