State Security Service operatives in Bauchi state killed two alleged motorcycle thieves who had gained forced entry into the agency’s training grounds, reports said.

According to reports, Bauchi State police commissioner, Mohammed Ladan confirmed the attacks and said the men, initially thought to be members of the Boko Haram sect, were just robbers.

Ladan said one of attackers, who had been arrested, confessed that they had only come to steal motorcycles.

“After our preliminary investigation, we identified the two suspects shot were popular motor cycle thieves,” Ladan said.

“The arrested person told us that they were four in number. It means that one of them has escaped.”

Assistant Director of the SSS, Mr. Olu Justine, said the security agency had received intelligence regarding the attack and operatives had been on alert against a possible attack.

Justine said five gunmen had come for the operation in the early hours of Sunday morning.

“Our patrol team spotted them and opened fire, gunning down the two, while the remaining three retreated. One of the retreating assailants was, however, arrested by the vigilant neighbouring local community and handed over to us,” he added.

Ladan said a rod and wire cutter, pair of pliers, ropes, spanner and mobile phones were recovered at the scene.

Only the two suspects killed during the incident were casualties from the attack, the police commissioner said, adding that property belonging to the SSS still remains in tact.