The Niger State Governor Umaru Bago and his convoy on Sunday missed their way during a tour and strayed into a terrorists? enclave on the outskirts of Igade Mashegu local government area and Bangi Mariga local government area.

The Governor and his entourage have since last week been visiting local communities in Niger North Senatorial District to inspect ongoing projects which include a five-kilometre road in Igade.

The Governor while addressing locals in the town, said the road would be extended to Mariga Local Government Area and equally pledged to rehabilitate health centres in the axis to improve access to essential healthcare services.

Sources disclosed that as the Governor and his entourage were leading back to Kotangora, they missed their road and found themselves around the Bangi and Igade axis controlled by bandits

The sources added that security operatives in the convoy on reaslising that the area was not safe, immediately advised the convoy to back off, and in the course of this, the bandits sighting the convoy opened fire on them

"They missed their road and found themselves around the Bangi and Igade axis controlled by bandits. The security operatives in the convoy observed that the area was not safe, and they immediately advised the convoy to back off. It was when they were trying to turn and take another route that the bandits fired at them?, the source said.

the sources said security operatives overpowered the terrorists, adding that some of the terrorists were reportedly gunned down, while others retreated into the forest.

The Niger State government, however, debunked the news, describing it as fake in a statement posted on X by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ibrahim Bologi, adding that the Governor?s convoy has been having a smooth tour of ongoing projects across

"The convoy of the farmer Governor has been having a smooth tour of ongoing projects across the Niger North Senatorial District since last week. The governor?s tour has been peaceful with no incident of any attack or threat to his safety or that of his team??, Bologi wrote. (Penpushing, but headline rejigged)