Suspected bandits have reportedly killed three personnel of the Kaduna State Vigilance Service (KADVIS) and two others were wounded in an ambush.
This was announced in a statement released on Wednesday by the commissioner for internal security and home affairs, Samuel Aruwan.
Aruwan also said on Tuesday, suspected bandits opened fire on motorists close to the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) access road, in Igabi local government area of the state, but were repelled by the troops.
He said the vigilance personnel were attacked in an ambush, Tuesday night, at Dande village, on their way from Damba-Kasaya in the Buruku, Chikun local government area of the state.
He identified those killed as Alison Musa, Dauda Audu and Ishaya Sarki, while those who sustained injuries are Ayuba Tanko and Doza Adamu.
At least 17 people, including a traditional ruler and his son have been killed in the past three days by suspected bandits in communities along Zangon Kataf, Giwa, Igabi and along the Kaduna-Abuja road.
Aruwan said Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna, had sent condolences to the families of the deceased personnel and prayed for the repose of their souls, while wishing those that sustained injuries speedy recovery.
The statement said the governor also commended troops of the Operation Thunder Strike, for successfully dislodging suspected bandits “terrorising people” along the Kaduna-Abuja road.
Many people, including eight students of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, were abducted along that road on Sunday afternoon.
“The Governor has also commended land and air troops of Operation Thunder Strike for a successful operation around Kuku area, at the Kagarko local government axis of Kaduna-Abuja Road,” the statement read.
“The Governor said he received with gratitude, information that the first air strikes hit some of the target structures and neutralized some of the bandits, while the second wave of attacks was executed by a Nigerian Air Force helicopter gunships which provided close air support to the troops on the ground as they advanced from Kagarko via Kuku into the bandits’ enclave.”
Aruwan said citizens of the state will continue to be informed of the security situation and appealed for vigilance and prompt reporting of suspicious movements and activities to the security agencies or through the security operations room numbers: 09034000060, 08170189999.