According to Sun, the gunmen, who were about 100, stormed the community on motorcycles, where each motorcycle was reportedly carrying three armed men.

According to a report by SaharaReporters, the Nigerian Army and a large number of gunmen, suspected to be Boko Haram members, engaged in a gun duel on Friday after the assailants attacked Pandogari Community in the Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State.

According to Sun, the gunmen, who were about 100, stormed the community on motorcycles, where each motorcycle was reportedly carrying three armed men.

Scores of them were reportedly killed during the gun battle.

It was learnt that they had intended to carry out their usual crime of killing, maiming, and kidnapping but they met resistance from the local vigilantes and personnel of the Nigerian Army.

It was gathered that the gunmen were suspected to be part of those fleeing Zamfara and Katsina states due to the military operations going there.

They were said to have invaded the town at about 6pm on Friday, and made their way to the military base in an attempt to sack the soldiers.

A source revealed that the soldiers engaged the gunmen in gun battle for several hours, forcing them (soldiers) to seek for reinforcements.

A top local vigilante official who preferred anonymity described the battle as “very intense and serious.”

“They were Fulani from neighbouring countries. They were very young; they were foreigners because of their mode of dressing and their intonations,” he added.

“They are equally looking for a base in the state because of the military operations in Zamfara and Katsina states. They have been dislodged there, so they are desperately looking for a base in Niger State,” he added.