Over 50 bandits were killed by combined ground and air assault in Saulawa-Farin Ruwa axis of Birnin Gwari LGA of Kaduna State.
A Nigerian Air Force helicopter gunship provided close air support to ground troops advancing from the Dogon Dawa-Damari-Saulawa axis, a statement by Kaduna’s commissioner of internal security and home affairs, Samuel Aruwan, has said.
He 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.”
Governor Nasir El-Rufai expressed his satisfaction at the operational feedback, and congratulated the ground troops and gunship crews on the route.
He urged them to sustain the momentum and bring even more bandits to their bitter end.
