The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs in Kaduna State, Samuel Aruwan, on Sunday confirmed the attack on bandits by troops of Operation Thunder Strike in an attack carried out on Saturday at Chikwale village, along the Polewire-Mangoro-Sarkin Pawa Road in the Chikun Local Government Area of the state.
The ground and air patrols were carried out following credible information of the bandits’ movement from a neighbouring state, towards Akilbu in the Kachia LGA.
The Commissioner while speaking on the development noted that during the patrols, many bandits were sighted on motorcycles around Gidan Sule.
He said, “The bandits scampered for cover as they were engaged by the fighter jet crew. The fighter jets conducted further missions in quick succession, as the bandits were tracked accordingly.”
“When they eventually regrouped to continue their movement, they were effectively engaged and neutralised by the fighter jets around the inter-state boundary. Governor Nasir El-Rufai, according to the release, has expressed satisfaction at the report, and thanked the troops for their relentless tracking of the criminals during the mission.”
“Aggressive ground and air patrols are set to continue in the general area.”
The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche who confirmed this in a statement on Sunday, noted that the operation took place on Saturday, 23rd January.
Based on credible intelligence reports, the troops with Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets and helicopter gunship launched several coordinated attacks against the bandits, killing scores of them while others escaped with wounds.
Enenche in the statement noted that the troops have continued surveillance of the area and won’t rest until all bandits and other criminals are evicted and normalcy is restored in every troubled zone across the country.