Two persons have been killed by bandits during an attack on Garawa village of Fatika District in Giwa Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State.
The bandits were said to have killed one Alhaji Saadu at his residence and kidnapped some indigenes of the community during the attack.
This was confirmed by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan, on Monday in Kaduna.
According to him, bandits killed another local, Suleiman Audu, in Angwan Dan Yaya village of the same district.
Aruwan noted that the assailants raided Doka village also in Fatika District and abducted some villagers in the process.
He disclosed that military personnel killed several bandits during air raids on communities in Giwa, Birnin Gwari, Igabi, and Chikun LGAs.
The commissioner confirmed that the raids were conducted in Sabon Birnin, Rikau, Kaya, Kerawa, Galadimawa, Fatika, Kidandan, Saulawa, Dogon Dawa, Ngade Allah, Kuduru, Yadi, Damari, and Takama villages.
Other villages include Sabuwa, Ungwar Yako, and its connecting track to Kuduru, as well as the Kaduna Birnin-Gwari Road, all in Birnin Gwari, Chikun, Igabi, and Giwa LGAs.
According to the operational feedback to the Kaduna State government, Rikau was observed to be active with bandits and the location was engaged accordingly, leading to the killing of several bandits.
About 3km south-east of Saulawa, the Commissioner said bandits were seen fleeing from an air raid with herds of cattle and were subsequently engaged and neutralised.
In another mission at Maganda village, two bandits were said to have been engaged and killed by the fighter jet crew as they made an attempt to escape.
On the other hand, ground troops reported bandits’ activities at Gatarawa, close to Rumana and while the crew did not establish clear contact, the commissioner explained that the location was strafed with probing shots into the dense vegetation.
He added that ground troops at Dogon Dawa and Sabon Birni reported a calm situation while other areas covered were the same with no suspicious activity observed.
In his reaction, Governor Nasir El-Rufai mourned the residents killed by the bandits and condoled with their families.
He also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured and urged the security agencies to step up responses in the area towards curbing such attacks.
