The Commissioner for Internal Security And Home Affairs in Kaduna State, Samuel Aruwan, in a press statement, has said that the 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.
Aruwan said, according to the reports, the bandits stormed the area in large numbers on motorcycles, and proceeded to raze several houses, as they attacked and killed locals.
Since the attack on Sunday, security agencies and traditional leaders in the locations, have been updating the government on the development.
He added that as of the time of this report, 32 persons have been confirmed dead, following the attack.
He also said that the Government mourns the gruesome killings and burning of houses in the attacked locations, and a report was published, suggesting that the victims of the attack were killed by terrorists using a helicopter.
Hence the Kaduna State Government wishes to make a clarification based on reports received since Sunday.
It says the bandits attacked the first two locations and killed 31 citizens.
They then headed into Ungwan Maikori, where they killed one person and burnt some houses.
Aruwan said an Air Force helicopter, under Operation Whirl Punch, dispatched to the location, had earlier scanned the first two locations and sighted burning houses and properties.
The helicopter intercepted the bandits at the last location, Ungwan Maikori and engaged them.
They retreated before the arrival of ground troops to the general area.
It was the arrival of the air asset which deterred the bandits from further attacks on the citizens in the village, after the bandits had already killed one local, and burnt several houses.
He said the story that a helicopter provided air support to the bandits against the locals is, therefore, an untrue account.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)
