By AbdulGafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

Kaduna State Government has said that, scores of bandits terrorizing the Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area, have been neutralised in air missions conducted over several locations in the council.

The state’s Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, who disclosed this in a statement, said the bandits were neutralised in the ongoing military operations in the state. In a related development, Kaduna State Police Command said it has commenced immediate deployment of more personnel and logistics to the terrorised council, following the recent upsurge in armed banditry, kidnapping and other heinous activities along Kaduna – Birni Gwari highway.

Commissioner said, “in continuation of offensives over identified bandit hideouts, the air platforms conducted armed reconnaissance over Sani Maichuku, Alhaji Chorki, Sangeku, Zabiya, Dutsen Magaji, Kotonkoro and adjoining settlements of Birnin-Gwari which led to the killing of several bandits.” He said Governor Nasir El-Rufai commended the military for another successful round of operations in the Birnin Gwari area, adding that  several bandits were sighted at  Sani Maichuku, and were engaged as some of them attempted to escape on three motorcycles.

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“Similarly, at Alhaji Chokri, bandits were sighted on five motorcycles with herds of cattle, and were duly neutralized by the fighter jet crew. Communication was maintained with ground troops particularly at Zabiya and Gwaska; no suspicious activity was reported in those locations.”

In another development, the commissioner also said the military under the auspices of Operation Thunder Strike, reported that suspected bandits attacked some farmers in a community off the Kaduna-Abuja Road in Chikun local government area. “According to the report, villagers pursued and apprehended two of the suspects. However, due to the severe beating administered by the villagers, one of the suspects died from the injuries sustained. The other remains in critical condition, in the custody of the troops,” Aruwan explained.

However, Kaduna State Police Command’s PPRO, ASP Mohammed Jalige in a statement, said, that police personnel were deployed to the Birnin Gwari axis to curb activities of criminal elements and restore public confidence in affected communities and road users. He said  the deployment comprises of conventional Police Officers, Police Mobile Force, Operatives of the Puff Adder exercise, the anti-Kidnapping unit and undercover Operatives.