Three soldiers killed in Magama shootout, says Niger gov

Governor Abubakar Bello of NigerState has confirmed the killing of three soldiers by gunmen in the Magama Local Government Area of state.
He stated this in Minna on Tuesday after an expanded emergency Security meeting at Government House.
He said soldiers and a group of bandits on Monday night engaged in a gun battle, leading to the death of the three soldiers.
He said some of the bandits were also killed in the shootout that lasted over one hour.
“Two bodies of the bandits were later recovered from the bush while they manage to escape with the rest,” the governor stated.
According to him, the bandits are being trailed by the Army, stressing that they will be arrested soonest.
Governor Bello said peace was gradually returning to some of the communities recently sacked by the bandits.
He said, “No fewer than 50 communities have been resettled back in the villages. They were led back to their villages by the soldiers.
“Now that the rain has started, the people who are predominantly farmers will go back to their farms and start planting.
“All the affected Communities in the three local government areas of Shiroro, Munya and Rafi mostly affected are major agricultural communities and with the security cover by the military, farming will commence in earnest and the fear of food shortage next year is being allayed.”