The news of the recent attack by terrorists who carried out an aerial strike on Kaduna has been refuted by the State government.
Report cited that terrorists killed 32 people in the Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
According to the authorities, a NAF helicopter was dispatched to combat the bandits who had attacked and killed the 32 people earlier.
Mr. Samuel Aruwan, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, said the Kaduna State Government got initial complaints from security agencies on Sunday that thieves raided the villages of Dogon Noma, Ungwan Sarki, and Ungwan Maikori in the Kajuru Local Government Area.
According to reports, the bandits entered the region on motorcycles in great numbers, razing many homes and attacking and killing people.
Security agencies and traditional authorities in the areas had been briefing the government on the issue since the assault on Sunday, he reported.
He compiled the names of the 32 people murdered by bandits, as well as their villages: Dogon Noman village:
Ahmadu Musa, Audu Dandaura, Akilu Laya, David Wasika, Hajatu Buhari, Nashon Buhari Iliya Yaki, Javan Mairabo, Jackson Adamu, and Nasco Victor are amongst the people mentioned.
Joshua Amadi, Gona Isah, Douglas Yakubu, Phineas Joel, Tanimu Umaru, Abody Iliy, Wanzami Halidu, Dogo Aweh, Sunday Shittu, Rejoice Audu, Jedidiah Ayawa Jinkai Pius, Rebecca Ayafa, Ishaya John, Audu Danladi, Jibo Sule, Yakubu Garba, Williams Danbaba and Williams
Maikasa Kufana, Augustine Bahago, Ungwan Sarki.
According to him, while the government was mourning the brutal killings and burning of homes in the ravaged areas, a report was issued claiming that the terrorists used a helicopter to ambush the victims of the attack.
He, on the other hand, refuted the account, claiming that, based on information gathered since Sunday, bandits assaulted the first two places, killing 31 people, before moving on to Ungwan Maikori, where they killed one person and set fire to a house.
He said that an Air Force chopper assigned to the area (as part of Operation Whirl Punch) had examined the first two locations and found burned buildings and properties on fire.
He went on to say that the bandits were intercepted and engaged by the helicopter in their previouss location (Ungwan Maikori).
He said that the arrival of the air weapon discouraged the bandits from attacking the village’s residents after they had already killed one resident and set fire to so many homes.
After a fierce battle with the bandits, he stated numerous kidnapped victims were recovered, including an immigrant taken at a mining site.
Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i, he added, expressed tremendous regret and prayed for the souls of the victims after hearing about the horrific event.