Troops of the Nigerian Army have neutralised several bandits in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
It said the coordinated ground and air strikes by troops of Operation Whirl Punch successfully neutralised several bandits including some of their leaders at an identified meeting point near Bula community within Yadi Forest in Giwa LGA.
Samuel Aruwan, overseeing Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State who confirmed the report in a statement said feed received showed that the strike was based on credible intelligence which followed the recent elimination of some bandit kingpins along the Kaduna-Katsina border areas.
“The intelligence report had earlier revealed that bandits were to converge at the area for a meeting on a deadly mission within the Yadi Forest general area.
“Close monitoring followed and at the agreed time, the bandits were sighted bearing arms and approaching the location on motorcycles,” the statement said.
According to him, further exploration confirmed the movements and convergence of the bandits in a group of about seven to ten members at a hub in the location.
“Upon verification, the location was struck and scores of the bandits including one Alhaji Kachalla Ragas – an ally and childhood friend of the previously neutralized Buharin Yadi – were confirmed to have been neutralized by the strike.”
The Governor also encouraged residents to continue to volunteer information about bandits and thanked the various sources who provided crucial intelligence leading to the successful strike.