The Defence Headquarters says the Air component of Operation Thunder Strike has neutralised several bandits at Chikwale Forest in the Mangoro area of Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The action was carried out the same day The NEXT EDITION report indicted the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and Nigerian security forces of ignoring multiple warnings about the looming crisis in Southern Kaduna, and the rampant insecurity and abductions on the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway.
The report, which has been published in four different parts, pointed out that circles of violence and kidnappings in Southern Kaduna have led to the deaths of hundreds, a situation many residents blamed on the inability of the El-Rufai led government and security agencies to take proactive steps to pre-empt the bloodshed and lawlessness.
The report further indicted El-Rufai and security agencies of contributing indirectly to the killings and looting in the area.
During the investigation, written documents, interviews and witness accounts showed that reliable intelligence that could have stopped several bloody attacks in the war-weary zone, were ignored by state government and the security agencies.
The series of investigation have revealed that following their inability to act, between June 10 to August 21, 2020, suspected Fulani herdsmen massacred 136 indigenous Southern Kaduna people and plundered their villages.
Similarly, 10 indigenous Southern Kaduna survivors were identified and they recounted how heavily-armed Fulani militia unleashed mayhem on more than 24 villages across eight local government areas of the zone.
Yet, Governor El-Rufai and security agents overlooked vital intelligence, a situation that allowed militia groups to infiltrate and slaughter many in Southern Kaduna villages and settlements.
However, in what may be seen as a swift reaction, the military has bombarded the criminal hideouts on Kaduna/Abuja highways.
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Coordinator Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, in a statement on Sunday, said the operation was conducted on Saturday following credible intelligence reports indicating the significant presence of bandits in the area, about 20km West of the Kaduna-Abuja Highway.
He explained that after series of confirmatory through aerial surveillance missions, the Air Component dispatched an appropriate force package of Nigerian Air Force fighter jets and helicopter gunships to attack their location.
”Overhead the target area, the NAF Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance 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,” he said.
The coordinator said many of the bandits were neutralised in the strikes, while some escaped with varying degrees of injury adding that aerial surveillance missions were being intensified, in coordination with ground troops, to locate the fleeing bandits.
