Four personnel of the Nigerian Air Force were on Thursday feared killed following an ambush by some bandits at Ungwan Yako on Kaduna-Birnin Gwari Road, Kaduna State.
It was learnt that the bandits also set ablaze two vehicles belonging to the NAF personnel drafted to the area to maintain peace in the communities at Birnin Gwari.
But NAF authorities said only one of their personnel was killed in the ambush while many of the criminals were decimated.
A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the bandits, who were many, attacked the military personnel who were drafted to keep peace in the area.
The source said, “Bandits killed four of the Special Forces’ personnel and set two of their vehicles on fire.
“While the attack was going on, a war plane attacked the bandits and dropped bombs, killing many bandits on the spot.”
However, the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said in a statement that troops of the 271 NAF’s detachment fought gallantly and killed many of the bandits.
Daramola said, “Troops of the 271 NAF Detachment, Birnin Gwari, on Thursday, January 9, 2020 foiled an ambush set up by over 70 bandits at Ungwan Yako along the Kaduna-Birnin Gwari road in Kaduna.
“The troops were able to fight their way through the ambush to the side of Birnin Gwari, killing several bandits in the process.
“Unfortunately, one of our personnel paid the supreme price in the process while some sustained varying degrees of injury.
“The deceased airman, Aircraftman Mukhtar Ibrahim, is scheduled to be buried today in accordance with Islamic rites. The injured personnel are currently receiving treatment at the NAF Hospital in Kaduna.
“The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, on behalf all officers, airmen, airwomen and civilian staff of the NAF commiserates with the family of the fallen hero and prays that the Almighty grant his soul peaceful repose.
“The CAS has urged all NAF personnel to remain resolute and continue to work assiduously in synergy with sister services and other security agencies to rid the North-West of all criminal elements.”
Meanwhile, the police in Kaduna have confirmed that some gunmen, suspected to be kidnappers in military uniform.
The police said the abductors attacked the Catholic Good Shepherd Major Seminary, Kakau in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State and abducted four of the students.
The registrar of the school, Rev. Father Joel Usman, said the gunmen invaded the school on Wednesday between 10:30pm and 11:00pm.
Usman said that after a headcount of the students following the attack, four of them were declared missing.
Confirming the incident, the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, Yakubu Sabo, said gunmen in military uniform actually invaded the school and abducted four of the seminarians.
But Sabo was quick to say the quick intervention of the operatives of the command minimised the number of the students that would have been abducted by the gunmen.
He said the men, who were in military camouflage, gained entry into the GSMS Kakau by Flyover along Kaduna-Abuja highway.
The police spokesman said the criminals started shooting indiscriminately and in the process took away four students to unknown destination.
