No fewer than seven ground troops of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) were reportedly killed in an ambush by armed bandits in Kaduna on Saturday, a spokesman said. The military casualties came after a successful operation left scores of bandits killed in Birnin Gwari.

The attackers, numbering about 100, reportedly attacked NAF troops of the 271 Detachment, spokesman Ibikunle Daramola said in a statement on Saturday.

Mr. Daramola, an air vice marshall, said the troops were able to swiftly repelled the attack during the encounter, killing scores of bandits while several others escaped with gunshot wounds. 

“Unfortunately, some NAF personnel paid the supreme price during the operation, while a few others sustained varying degrees of injuries.” Mr. Daramola said.

The statement noted that the injured soldiers during the gun battle are currently receiving treatment at the NAF Hospital in Kaduna.

However, NAF further disclosed that air chief Oladayo Amao commiserated with the immediate families of the fallen heroes.

Birnin Gwari LGA has been the epicentre of banditry and kidnapping activities in Kaduna for years. The brigands have ravaged most communities across the local government area.

The onslaught of banditry across Kaduna has overwhelmed the security operatives in the state as the brigands continue to launch attacks recently leading to the deaths of hundreds of civilians including security operatives.

But Governor Nasir El-Rufai said his administration has continued to improve the capacity of security agencies to curb the attacks, which have also affected economic activities around the area.