The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna state, Samuel Aruwan, has in a statement debunked reports of aerial attack by terrorists in the state.
The Kaduna State Government maintained that NAF helicopter arrived Kajuru Local Government Area of the State, to engage the bandits who had earlier attacked and killed 32 persons.
According to Samuel Aruwan, as Government mourned the gruesome killing and burning of houses in the attacked locations, a report was published suggesting that the victims of the attack were killed by terrorists using a helicopter.
Debunking the report, Aruwan said that bandits attacked the first two locations and killed 31 citizens, and then headed into Ungwan Maikori, where they killed one person and burnt some houses.
He said an Air Force helicopter (under Operation Whirl Punch) dispatched to the area, had earlier scanned the first two locations and sighted burnt houses and properties on fire, thereafter, the helicopter intercepted the bandits at the last location (Ungwan Maikori) and engaged them.
While maintaining that several kidnapped victims, including an expatriate abducted at a mining site, were rescued after a fierce engagement with the bandits, Aruwan said it was the arrival of the air asset that deterred the bandits from further attacks on the villagers.
According to the statement, the Internal Security and Home Affairs Commissioner said that, the Kaduna State Government received initial reports from security agencies that bandits attacked the villages of Dogon Noma, Ungwan Sarki and Ungwan Maikori in Kajuru Local Government Area on Sunday.
According to the reports, the bandits stormed the area in large numbers on motorcycles, and proceeded to raze several houses, attacked and killed locals.
He however said that Governor Nasir El-Rufai, on receiving reports of the attack, expressed deep sadness and prayed for the repose of the victims’ souls.