At least 50 terrorists have been killed in Birnin Gwari area of Kaduna State, North West Nigeria on Tuesday, according to the state government.
The Nigerian Air Force supported the ground troops on Tuesday to hit more than 50 terrorists after a gun fuel.
The state government described the killings as an inspiring success and hailed the military for the achievement, after being recording several civilian losses over previous months.
“In an inspiring success for the security forces, over 50 bandits have been neutralized during a combined ground and air assault in the Saulawa-Farin Ruwa axis of Birnin Gwari LGA,” the Kaduna government statement said.
“According to operational feedback to the Kaduna State Government from the Command of the Joint Operations, a Nigerian Air Force helicopter gunship provided close air support to ground troops advancing from the Dogon Dawa-Damari-Saulawa axis.
“Following extensive scans, bandits were spotted on five motorcycles, about 4km east of Saulawa, waiting to ambush the ground forces. They were engaged vigorously by the helicopter gunship and were wiped out.
“After this, armed bandits on about 50 motorcycles were sighted fleeing towards Farin Ruwa, and were struck effectively by the gunship.
The state government also revealed that the terrorists who tried to run were cleared by the ground troops in a major military success. “Fleeing remnants were mopped up by ground forces. A second helicopter gunship joined the operations, and many more fleeing bandits were neutralized by precise strikes. Assessment revealed that more than 50 bandits were neutralized during the joint operation.”
The governor of the state Nasir El-Rufai also congratulated the troops for their success and hailed the efforts of the gunship crews.
In the third quarter of 2020, Kaduna State was one of the worst-hit areas in Nigeria recording hundreds of civilian deaths between July and September.