Operation Thunder Strike: Watch how Troops neutarlize scores of Armed Bandits along Kaduna-Abuja highway! Video👇

The Air Component of Operation Thunder Strike continue to show their gallantry efforts in the bid to totally wipe out armed bandits and other criminal elements along the Kaduna-Abuja highway and other affected areas.

In a well-coordinated air onslaught carried out in the Ckikwale Forest of Mangoro Area of Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State neutralized scores of armed bandits.

The onslaught against the armed bandits was carried out on the 23rd of January after several intelligence and surveillance reports spotted a large gathering of armed bandits in the forest area which is 20km west of the Kaduna-Abuja highway.

The attack helicopter and fighter jets of the Nigerian Air Force, having spotted a procession of the bandits dressed in black attire heading towards Niger State in Motorcycles, took turns in engaging them which lead to the death of a more than a handful of the criminals.

This latest development was made known in a statement published on the Twitter and Facebook page of the Defense Headquarters Nigeria.

 

#PressRelease #DHQUpdate

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OPERATION THUNDER STRIKE: AIR COMPONENT NEUTRALIZES SEVERAL ARMED BANDITS IN CHIKWALE FOREST, WEST OF KADUNA-ABUJA HIGHWAY

1. 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. The operation was executed yesterday, 23 January 2021, the equal to credible intelligence reports indicating the significant presence of armed 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.

2. 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. The attack aircraft, therefore, took turns in engaging the bandits, who were seen firing at the attack helicopter as it strafed them. Several armed bandits were accordingly neutralized in the airstrikes while some escaped with various degrees of injuries. Meanwhile, aerial surveillance missions have been intensified, in coordination with ground troops, to locate the fleeing bandits.

3. The Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies will sustain the offensive against the enemies of our Nation. We shall not relent until normalcy is restored to all troubled zones of the Country.

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JOHN ENENCHE
Major General
Coordinator
Defence Media Operations
Defence Headquarters
24 January 2021.