El-Rufai hails troops as 50 bandits killed in air, ground operations

The Kaduna State Government on Monday said security operatives killed over 50 bandits in a combined ground and air assaults in Saulawa-Farin Ruwa, in the Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of the state.

The state Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

He said, “According to the operational feedback to the Kaduna State Government from the command of the joint operations, a Nigerian Air Force helicopter gunship provided close air support to ground troops advancing from the Dogon Dawa-Damari-Saulawa axis.

“Following extensive scans, bandits were spotted on five motorcycles, about four kilometres east of Saulawa, waiting to ambush the ground forces. They were engaged vigorously by the helicopter gunship and 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 neutralised by precise strikes. Assessments revealed that more than 50 bandits were neutralised during the joint operations.”

The commissioner quoted Governor Nasir El-Rufai to have expressed satisfaction over the development and urged the troops to sustain the momentum and bring “more bandits to their bitter end.”