The Niger State police command said it has killed six bandits during a gun battle in Garkogo, Shiroro Local Government Area of the state.

The command also said scores of the bandits escaped with serious bullets wound, leaving behind their motorcycles.

The criminals defied the Ramadan fast to launch an attack on some villages around Garkogo, but met their end when mobile policemen who had laid ambush for them on receiving information about their operation opened fire on them.

The policemen were those stationed at Garkogo town, following ceaseless attacks on the people by the bandits.

The bandits were said to have shot and killed a villager before the policemen engaged them in a fierce gun battle at about 3:30am in on Saturday morning.

The development comes barely three weeks after five soldiers and one policeman were killed in Allawa, after the bandits attacked their base.

Four of the bandits were killed on the spot, while bodies of two others, who died from bullets wounds, were recovered from a farm in the afternoon