The Nigerian Army has said that eleven military personnel and eight bandits died in a gun battle at Kopa, Dagma and Gagaw villages of Bosso Local Government Area of Niger State.

This was in a statement on Saturday by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman.

Usman said the soldiers were from 31 Artillery Brigade, Division and the Nigerian Air Force detachment on International Security Operation MESA, adding that two other soldiers sustained serious injuries while one was missing.

According to Usman, the troops were on a cordon and search operation to recover suspected cache of weapons and arrest armed bandits when they came under attack from the hoodlums.

Usman said 57 of the bandits were arrested but others burnt down four operational vehicles, vandalised two others and went away with four AK-47 rifles, and a Fabrique Nationale rifle belonging to the deceased soldiers.

The Acting Army Spokesman disclosed that the recovered items included three AK-47 rifles,10 Local AK-47 rifles, nine locally-made pistols, six revolver guns, which fires 7.62mm (special ammunition), 45 loaded dane guns, 10 clubs and cudgels, 41 arrows, 18 bow cases, 122 cutlasses and machetes as well as 20 daggers.

Usman said, ‘‘ The troops also recovered 31 axes, 63 rounds of 7.62 (special) ammunition, 10 Bajaj motorcycles, assorted charms and amulets, two vehicles, 38 mobile telephone handsets, a wristwatch, five identity cards, passport photographs, sum of N23,870. 00k, five Japanese Yen and 35 different denominations of old Nigerian currency, 15 catapults, eight torch lights, two gun powder bottles, four empty cases of ammunition and 41 cartridges.”

He said the military would ensure that those behind the dastardly act were apprehended and brought to justice.

“It is important to stress that the nefarious activities of the gun-runners and the armed bandits has direct bearing with the influx of weapons and general insecurity in some parts of the Federal Capital Territory and the North-West geo-political zone of the country.

“The same gun-runners have been confirmed to be the suppliers of arms to armed robbery gangs that were involved in series of armed robbery attacks along Minna-Bida Road and the general environment.

“Although the situation is under control, the military will not rest on its oars until all those involved are arrested and brought to justice. The military will continue to deal with any violent threat to our national security,” Usman stated.

Azeez