The Armed Forces of Nigeria on Sunday that airstrikes of Air Component of Operation THUNDER STRIKE killed “several armed bandits at Chikwale Forest in the Mangoro area of Chikun Local Government Area in Kaduna State.
Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche, said ina statement that the operation was executed on Saturday, “sequel to credible intelligence reports indicating the significant presence of armed bandits in the area, which is about 20Km West of the Kaduna-Abuja Highway.
“Accordingly, after series of confirmatory aerial surveillance missions, the Air Component dispatched an appropriate force package of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets and helicopter gunships to attack the location.Overhead the target area, the NAF Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft spotted scores of bandits, mounted on motorcycles and dressed in black attire, heading towards Niger State.
“The attack aircraft therefore took turns in engaging the bandits, who were seen firing at the attack helicopter as it strafed them. Several armed bandits were accordingly neutralized in the air strikes, while some escaped with various degrees of injuries.
“Meanwhile, aerial surveillance missions have been intensified, in coordination with ground troops, to locate the fleeing bandits.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies will sustain the offensive against the enemies of our Nation. We shall not relent until normalcy is restored to all troubled zones of the Country.”
Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan, had on Saturday confirmed that bandits killed six persons in separate attacks on Chikun and Giwa Local Government Areas of the State.
Mr Aruwa, who said in a statement that investigations were ongoing into the incidents, stated that vigorous patrols continued in areas invaded by the bandits.
The Commissioner said while four persons were killed in Maskoro and Akunakwo communities of Chikun Local Council, they killed one Alhaji Yahuza Jinaidu between Hayin Inji and Kidandan Town in Giwa Local Council in a bid to dispossess him of his motorcycle.
Another victim, Kabiru Lado, died as he was being rushed to the hospital after bandits wielding sophisticated weapons opened fire on a group of citizens in Yan Rake, Galadimawa, in Giwa Local Council.