Bandits attacked Sabon Layi village near Kakangi town in Birnin Gwari area of Kaduna State, killing nine villagers and looting shops.
According to residents who spoke to Daily Trust, the bandits stormed the village around 8am on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, shooting sporadically for about an hour.
A resident who identified himself as Ahmed said during the attack, the bandits looted shops and rustled cattle belonging to the villagers.
“Five bodies were recovered from the village, and four other bodies were found in a nearby bush. The bandits also carted away foodstuffs and animals from the village,” he said.
Another resident, Muhammadu Birnin Gwari, said his brother escaped from the village.
The State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, confirmed the attack in a statement but did not mention the number of casualties.
However, he revealed that air strikes from the Air Component of Operation Whirl Punch neutralised several bandits after a distress call was received at around 9:44 am.
“It was confirmed that the bandits were shooting, rustling cattle, looting properties, and committing other heinous crimes, a situation which had residents scampering for safety,” he stated.
“Immediately, the Air Component of Operation Whirl Punch was contacted for action, and the unit responded promptly to the location. On arrival at Sabon Layi, a thorough scan revealed normal human activities at the reported location. However, about four kilometers North of Sabon Layi village, the bandits were sighted fleeing for cover from the aircraft. They were engaged and neutralized in several passes.”