The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets have bombed key enclaves of kidnapping and banditry in Rijana, Kaduna State, destroying the armoury and a building occupied by a kidnapping kingpin, Ali Kwaja. About 45 bandits were eliminated in the bombing raid.
Sources confirmed that bandits often use the enclaves as their staging points to carry out attacks on travellers and commuters along the Abuja -Kaduna Expressway.
Stating that recent attacks on unsuspecting travellers along the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway necessitated the increased surveillance and intelligence along the road and environs to uncover bandits’ activities and their modus operandi in the area, the source noted that “most of the attacks along Kaduna-Abuja Expressway are orchestrated by bandits from Rijana-Kuzo axis.
“After confirming the location, the Air Component of Operation Thunder Strike scrambled fighter aircraft to take out the targets.
“Overhead the target area, armed bandits were seen gathered and were engaged. Some fleeing bandits after the initial strike were trailed to a location, about 4km Southeast of Kaduna State NYSC Orientation Camp and were subsequently neutralized.
“Furthermore, the Air Component destroyed a key bandits’ house at Kofita, after it was revealed that the building serves as a warehouse and staging location for most of the attacks in the area.”
Locals residing within a safe distance of the area also confirmed to our correspondent that over 45 bandits were neutralized at Rijana axis during the strike.
By PRNigeria
