Security forces have neutralised 50 bandits in the ongoing fight against banditry and kidnapping in Kaduna state.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, said the bandits were neutralised during a combined ground and air assault in the Saulawa-Farin Ruwa axis of Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of the state.
He said information from operational feedback to the Kaduna state government by the Command of the Joint Operations, indicated that a Nigerian Air Force helicopter gunship provided close air support to ground troops advancing from the Dogon Dawa-Damari-Saulawa axis.
The commissioner said, “Following extensive scans, bandits were spotted on five motorcycles, about 4km east of Saulawa, waiting to ambush the ground forces. They were engaged vigorously by the helicopter gunship, and were wiped out.
“After this, armed bandits on about 50 motorcycles were sighted fleeing towards Farin Ruwa, and were struck effectively by the gunship. Fleeing remnants were mopped up by ground forces.
“A second helicopter gunship joined the operations, and many more fleeing bandits were neutralized by precise strikes. Assessment revealed that more than 50 bandits were neutralized during the joint operation”.
He said Governor Nasir El-Rufai expressed satisfaction at the operational feedback and congratulated the ground troops and gunship crews on the route and “urged them to sustain the momentum and bring even more bandits to their bitter end.”
By John Shiklam in Kaduna
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