Kaduna State Government on Thursday said bandits had attacked Katarma village in Chikun local government area, and kidnapped some locals, mainly women.
In a statement, the State Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said security agencies’ reports confirmed that the bandits were initially engaged by local vigilantes who defended the village just before troops were mobilized to the location.
Aruwan further stated that four persons (Bulus Barde, Hassan Zarmai, Lawal Pada and Kefas Auta) including vigilantes were killed in the gunfight, with three others (Amos Doma, Zamba Ali and Bomboi Busa) injured.
He said all the kidnapped women were rescued by the troops.
He said in response to the attack that air platforms were swiftly mobilized for armed missions over Katarma village, and Kusasu village in neighboring Niger State.
Aruwan said while the ground troops headed to the location, the air component went ahead and neutralized several bandits as contained in the operational feedback to the Kaduna State Government.
He said the feedback from the security agencies showed that the bandits were sighted at Katarma, clustered amid large herds of cattle, with others fleeing the location on motorcycles.
He said they were quickly engaged by the fighter jet and neutralized.
“During armed reconnaissance over neighboring Kusasu village, bandits on motorcycles were sighted fleeing from the aircraft, and were engaged, as some abandoned their motorcycles and took cover in the bushes.
“Furthermore, missions were conducted over Albasu, Rahama, Sabon Birni, Kaya, Rikau, Galadimawa, Kerawa, Kidandan, Yadi, Dogon Dawa, Ngede Allah, Takama, Kuduru, Kuduru-Ungwan Yako track and the Kaduna-Birnin Gwari Road, spanning Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Igabi and Chikun local government areas.
“At Yadi, bandits were sighted on foot and on motorcycles with large herds of rustled cattle, and were duly engaged. Other locations were calm with normal activities observed,” Aruwan said.
Responding to the report, Governor Nasir el-Rufai sent his heartfelt condolences to the families of those killed by bandits at Katarma, and prayed for the repose of their souls.
The governor further expressed satisfaction with the operational feedback, and commended the military for sustaining the tempo in taking the fight to the bandits’ enclaves.
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