Samuel Aruwan, the state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs said in a statement on Thursday that some rustled cattle were also affected following an air offensive by the air component of Operation Thunder Strike, a Defence Headquarters response to terrorism in some locations in the state.

Aruwan said while on aggressive fighting patrol, the air platform after flying over several locations in Giwa and Igabi Local Government Areas, sighted terrorists with several herds of cattle at a location northwest of Kuduru Forest in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area.

“The air platform engaged the armed men and subsequently neutralised several of them, with some of the cattle also affected,” he explained.

He disclosed that the air platform is still conducting aggressive fighting patrols to criminal hideouts in the general area as well as the Kaduna-Abuja road.

The Commissioner quoted Governor Nasir El-Rufai as saying he was elated at the development and commended the hard work of the military and other security agencies in engaging the gunmen.