Military airstrike kills several bandits in Kaduna forest

THE Defence Headquarters has claimed victory over some bandits using Kwabiambana Forest area in Kaduna State as hideout.

It noted that the nefarious operations of the bandits, who also engage in cattle rustling, were disrupted by the Air Component of Operation Thunder Strike of the military.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, said in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, that the operation was conducted on Nov. 12.

Giving details on what led to the operation, Enenche said they acted following reports indicating that close 100 bandits carrying high calibre weapons, mounted on motorcycles, had rustled a large number of cattle and other livestock from Dankolo and Machitta villages.

He disclosed that the bandits and the rustled livestock were subsequently spotted by a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft on a reconnaissance mission at Kaboru village heading towards Kwiambana Forest.

According to him, the Air Component, therefore, dispatched a NAF attack helicopter to the location which engaged the target area, leading to the neutralisation of several of the bandits.