Following the threats by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, who vowed that the military would hunt down and bring to justice, all terrorists, bandits and enemies of the state, the criminals have begun fleeing Niger State.
The terrorists are said to be responsible for the recent crash in the State, of an helicopter carrying at least 36 soldiers.
Reports just in also say that the bandits have begun to release some abductees in their camps.
Sources say that some of the farmers abducted about 5 months ago around Kaffin Korro, Munya and some parts of Shiroro have now been released.
Speculations are that the bandits who are anticipating the onslaught following the recent crash of the military helicopter linked to the Gide Dogo bandits group are retreating to neighbouring states.
According to the Leadership, a source from the communities around the Shiroro axis where the bandits held sway in the past three weeks said the assailants were no longer coming out brazingly to operate as they did in previous weeks.
The development is coming on the heels of the disclaimer by the Niger State police command that no notorious bandit had declared himself governor in the state.
The police command in a statement by its spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, said no bandit had declared himself governor as reported in some mainstream and social media.
He said; “The command wishes to state categorically with all sense of responsibility that such publication is false in its entirety, and it only exists in the figment of the imagination of the author.
“The joint security teams in the state in collaboration with the state government are working assiduously to address the security challenges at hand, while tactical teams are placed at strategic locations within the volatile areas for security coverage.”
He called for calm and advised members of the public to ignore the publication, as it was an attempt by mischief makers to cause panic.