The Air Component of “Operation THUNDER STRIKE” has neutralized several armed bandits at Chikwale Forest in the Mangoro area of Chikun Local Government Area in Kaduna State.
In a statement, Coordinator Defence Media Operations, Defence Headquarters, Major General John Enenche, said the operation was executed on 23 January, 2021.
He said it was sequel to credible intelligence reports, indicating the significant presence of bandits in the area, which is about 20Km West of the Kaduna-Abuja Highway.
Accordingly, after a series of confirmatory aerial surveillance missions, the Air Component dispatched an appropriate force package of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets and helicopter gunships to attack the location, he said.
He stated that overhead the target area, the NAF Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft spotted scores of bandits, mounted on motorcycles and dressed in black attire, heading towards Niger State.
Enenche said the attack aircraft therefore took turns in engaging the bandits, who were seen firing at the attack helicopter as it strafed them.
He said several bandits were accordingly neutralized in the air strikes, while some escaped with various degrees of injuries.
He added that aerial surveillance missions had been intensified, in coordination with ground troops, to locate the fleeing bandits.
Enenche said the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies would sustain the offensive against the enemies of the nation.
He said they would not relent until normalcy was restored to all troubled zones of the Country.
