BORGU, Nigeria — The Niger State Police Command has confirmed the recovery of nine bodies discovered on the Wawa-Lumma road in the Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State. Authorities suspect the victims were killed by bandits while traveling on the route.

SP Wasiu Abiodun, spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, informed the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday that a joint team of police and military personnel was dispatched to the location on Tuesday after receiving information about the bodies. The team successfully evacuated the deceased.

Abiodun stated that clearance operations have been intensified in the area to ensure security and mitigate any further threats. "Police and military tactical teams were mobilised to the scene; the bodies recovered, while clearance operation was intensified to secure the area," he said.

This incident follows closely on the heels of recent security operations that led to the rescue of 308 individuals abducted in separate attacks across Kwara and Niger states. Of those rescued, 163 were taken from Woro Community in Kwara State's Kaiama Local Government Area, and 145 were kidnapped in a separate incident in Niger State.

The rescued victims were found in the Kainji Lake National Park forest, located in Niger State's New Bussa Local Government Area. The successful rescue was the result of a coordinated, intelligence-led operation involving multiple security agencies, including the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, the Armed Forces, the Department of State Services, and the Nigeria Police Force.