Air force operatives on security patrol have killed several bandits, who were moving stolen cattle into the Kuduru Forest in Birnin Gwari local government area of Kaduna state, Kaduna state government has said.
Kaduna state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan said that the Air force patrol, a component of Operation Thunder Strike were on patrol of Giwa and Igabi local government areas for banditry and other criminal activities when it noticed the presence of the bandits amidst large herd of stolen cattle and attacked them.
“The military has neutralised several armed bandits in Birnin Gwari local government area, as the Kaduna state government has been informed in an operational feedback.
“In the feedback, some rustled cattle were affected following an air offensive by the air component of Operation Thunder Strike, a Defence Headquarters response to banditry in some locations in the state.
“According to the report, while on aggressive fighting patrol, the air platform after flying over several locations in Giwa and Igabi local government areas, sighted armed bandits with several herds of cattle at a location northwest of Kuduru Forest in Birnin Gwari local government area.
“The air platform engaged the bandits and subsequently neutralized several of them, with some of the cattle also affected. The air platform is still conducting aggressive fighting patrols to criminal hideouts in the general area as well as the Kaduna-Abuja Road.
“Governor Nasir el-Rufai who was elated at the development, commended the hard work of the military and other security agencies in engaging the armed bandits,” Aruwan added.
