From Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo
The Taraba State Police Command has confirmed the killing of over 50 bandits after a gun duel in Bali Local Government area of the state.
The command’s spokesperson, Abdullahi Usman, disclosed this in a press release issued in Jalingo on Friday.
According to him, “Taraba State Police Command received information that some unknown gunmen suspected to be kidnappers in their hundreds invaded Tonti village under Maihula District, Bali LGA Taraba State. The bandits invaded the village around 5:30hrs during the time that the Muslim faithful were saying their morning prayers, and started shooting sporadically.
“On receipt of information, the Commissioner of Police, Taraba State Police Command, Joseph Eribo, ordered the deployment of a Tactical Team from Bali Division to the area in collaboration with the soldiers, vigilante, and hunters. On arriving at the village, the bandits engaged the joint team in a gun duel, In the process, many of the bandits were subdued and neutralized, due to the superior firing power of the operatives, others escaped with varying degrees of injury as a result of gunshots. Investigation revealed that over 50 of the bandits were neutralised.
“Meanwhile, a manhunt is presently sustained in the area with a view to arresting the fleeing bandits. However, the Commissioner of Police for the state has deployed a special striking force to the area for robust patrol and to stem the tide in other to avoid the escalation of such attacks by the bandits to another village around the area.”