ABUJA, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Nigeria police on Friday confirmed 104 armed bandits were killed during a raid which lasted several days in the northern state of Zamfara.
In a terse statement by national police spokesman Jimoh Moshood, the police said the raid was done to rout out the armed bandits from Mahanga forest which served as a large training camp for them in the state.
The statement said one policeman was shot dead during the security operation.
Eighty-five suspects were arrested following the raid. Over 50 hideouts, in three camps suspected to have been set up by the bandits, were destroyed during the raid, the statement said.
Over 500 cattle and 79 Sheep were recovered from the bandits, the statement added.
Mahanga forest is a settlement, surrounded by appealing green vegetation in Nigeria's northwest region. However, for decades, the forest had epitomized danger and commonly referred to as the headquarters of bandits, who often launch attacks on local herdsmen, farmers, and their communities.
