The Zamfara State Police Command has killed 30 hoodlums in Gobirawa, Gora, Rini and Madoti Dankule villages of Maradun and Bakura Local Government Areas the state as it renews its offences against banditry.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Mohammed Shehu, the operation followed a distress call it received about the simultaneous attacks in the areas.

“On receipt of the distress call, Tactical Operatives of the Command comprising of Puff Adder, Special Forces, PMF and CTU led by the Commander 78 PMF arrived the scenes and engaged the attackers to a gun duel,” the statement partly read.

“As a result of the encounter, about 30 hoodlums were neutralised while others escaped to the forest with a possible gunshot wound.”

The police spokesman said operatives discovered about 10 corpses of the villagers littered at the different areas., adding that the mop-up operation is ongoing with a view to arresting the perpetrators of the dastardly act. Further details of the operation will be communicated in due course.

He also asked residents of the state to cooperate with security agencies in order to effectively fight criminal elements terrorising the people.

Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Police has reiterated his warning to all the recalcitrant armed bandits to either surrender their arms and embrace peace or face the unpredictable consequences.

While thanking police personnel for their resilience, he asked them to defend themselves aggressively in any engagement with bandits and ensure that they dominate the ungoverned spaces on a continuous basis. (Channels TV)

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