NAF repels attacks on Zamfara villages, rescue kidnap victims (photo)

- The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Special Forces (SF) Team operating in Zamfara repelled bandits' attacks in some villages

- The NAF SF also neutralized five bandits and rescued some kidnap victims

- The NAF reiterated its commitment to working with services and other security agencies to neutralize the armed bandits and deny them freedom of action in Zamfara state

A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Special Forces (SF) Team operating in Zamfara state has reportedly repelled attacks by armed bandits who attempted to invade Hayin Mahe and Hayin Kanawa Villages in Gusau local government area.

The NAF in a statement signed by Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, the director of public relations and information and made available to Legit.ng said the operation, which took place on Sunday, March 31, was conducted sequel to intelligence reports indicating that the bandits, who operate from Sububu and Kagara Forests, had attacked the villages and kidnapped some of its inhabitants.

Responding to the intelligence reports, the SF team engaged in a gun duel with the bandits who eventually fled into the forest.

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The SF personnel pursued the bandits into the forest, overpowering them and neutralizing five bandits, while many others ran away with various gunshot wounds. Three AK-47 rifles with magazines were recovered in the process.

Some villagers, who were kidnapped by the fleeing bandits, including 2 women and a child, were freed and handed over to the district head of Mada Town.

In a follow-up operation, the NAF SF team returned to the communities to prevent reprisal attacks by the criminals as well as reassure the populace of their safety.

The team, supported by a NAF Alpha Jet and attack helicopters, tracked the fleeing armed bandits to their hideouts within Sububu Forest.

The Alpha Jet attacked the armed bandits’ camps while the helicopters scanned the environs for fleeing elements.

The local populace were seen expressing confidence by cheering at the helicopters overhead their communities.

The NAF reiterated its commitment to working with services and other security agencies to neutralize the armed bandits and deny them freedom of action in the area.

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the Nigerian Air Force condemned the reported flogging and physical assault of suspected bandits by some military personnel in Zamfara, as totally unacceptable.

NAF’s spokesman condemned the action in a statement on Sunday, March 31 in Abuja, NAN reports.

“The attention of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has been drawn to a video and some pictures circulating on some social media and online platforms showing some military personnel flogging suspected armed bandits at Shinkafi local government area in Zamfara state.

“The NAF has discovered that some of its personnel were part of the joint team stationed at the Galadi sub-sector at the time.

“The NAF wishes to state unequivocally that the troops’ actions of flogging and physically assaulting the disarmed suspects were totally unacceptable and not in consonance with the Standing Operating Procedures (SOPs) guiding the conduct of the operation," the statement reads.

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Source: Legit.ng