Waterloo: Police gunned down 14 bandits in Benue

It was a bad day on Sunday as fourteen armed bandits were reportedly gunned down in gun battle with Police in Katsina-Ala town, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State.

The bandits met their waterloo while on rescue of their detained colleagues at a police station in the town when Police engaged them.

Bandits moved into town in popular Toyota Corolla vehicles known as ‘duck nyash’ numbering about 50 fully armed when security operatives engaged them.

Fourteen of the bandits were killed on the spot in the encounter, the source confirmed to CAPITAL POST.

“We started hearing gunshots around 1:30 am today (Sunday) around the police station in Katsina-Ala town, everybody in the neighborhood was woken up with the sporadic gunshots and praying to God.

“It was around 5:00am that some leaders in the area visited the station after they had contacted the Divisional Police Officer, DPO.

”Surprisingly, the police gunned down over 10 of these bandits while many of them escaped with gun wounds. We also heard that two of them were captured alive”.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Benue State Police Command, DSP Catherine Anene confirmed the report that the Police have killed 14 criminals while they attempted to attack Police Station in Katsina-Ala.

The PPRO said Police are currently conducting series of operations to eliminate criminals who are making life unbearable in Benue.

“On 19th June, 2021 five bandits were arrested and detained at Kastina-Ala Police Division for investigation and prosecution.

“On 20th June, 2021 at about 0130hrs more than 50 other gang members of the detainees mobilized and invaded the police station to rescue their counterparts.

“Officers at the division who were already at alert engaged them in a gun duel and were able to subdue the bandits.

The PPRO said that security operatives were currently on the trail of suspected armed bandits who are now at large.

She advised the people of Kastina-Ala town to remain calm and avail the command of every useful information about the bandits to the police.