NAF kills scores of bandits in Kaduna air raid

During the aerial bombardment by the Nigerian Air Force's Operation Whirl Punch air component on Wednesday at the Sabon Layi hamlet in the Birinin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, scores of bandits were killed.

Samuel Aruwan, the state's commissioner for internal security and home affairs, said the military operation began at 9:44 a.m. on Wednesday when the ministry got a panicked call reporting that the village of Sabon Layi in Birnin Gwari LG was being heavily attacked by bandits.

He claimed that Operation Whirl Punch's air team was quickly alerted to the situation and dispatched to the scene.

The airstrikes conducted during the military operation, according to the commissioner, neutralized a large number of the fugitive hoodlums.

He claimed that the bandits had been terrorizing the locals by shooting, rustling cattle, plundering homes, and doing other horrific crimes.

Aruwan said, “Immediately, the  air component of Operation Whirl Punch was contacted for action, and the unit responded promptly to the location.

“On arrival at Sabon Layi, a thorough scan revealed normal human activities at the reported location. However, about four kilometres north of Sabon Layi village, the bandits were sighted fleeing for cover from the aircraft. They were engaged and neutralised in several passes.

“No further movement was observed after the strike. The aircraft sustained its presence overhead before withdrawing.”

The state governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, was also described by the commissioner as applauding the military's valour for successfully neutralizing the bandits during the operation.

“While the government awaits a formal report on the initial attack in Sabon Layi village, Governor Nasir El-Rufai has praised the air component for the prompt action, and conveyed his gratitude to the military for neutralising the fleeing bandits,” he added.

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