Nigeria, April 10 -- No fewer than 61 bodies of security operatives and civilians killed in Tuesday's bandit attack on Bagna and Erena communities in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State have been recovered.

Residents said the corpses were retrieved from surrounding bushes days after the abduction.

While the civilian victims have since been buried in Erena, the remains of the slain security personnel were deposited at the Minna General Hospital mortuary.

A resident of Erena, who requested anonymity for security reasons, said the casualties included vigilantes and other security operatives, as well as civilians.

However, police authorities reportedly confirmed only three vigilantes killed in the attack.

Among the victims was t...