At least 18 people have been killed in clashes between troops and suspected armed bandits in central Nigeria's Niger State during a cordon and search operation, the army said Sunday.

The operation followed intelligence on the activities of some gun runners and armed bandits in three villages in Bosso area of the state, Col. Sani Usman, the army spokesman, said in a statement obtained by Xinhua.

He said troops killed eight armed bandits and arrested 57 others in Bosso during cordon and search operations at three villages.

Also, eight soldiers and two airmen lost their lives during the operation, while one soldier was still missing and two others seriously wounded, he added.

The army spokesperson said the suspected gun runners and armed bandits burnt down four operational vehicles and vandalized two others, while the troops recovered large quantity of arms and ammunition.

According to him, the nefarious activities of the gun runners and armed bandits had direct bearing, with the influx of weapons and general insecurity in some parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and North West geo-political zone.

Source : XINHUA