The Kaduna State Government has refuted reports of a terrorist aerial strike.
Terrorists killed 32 people in the Kajuru Local Government Area of the state, according to the report.
According to the authorities, the NAF helicopter arrived to combat the bandits who had attacked and killed 32 people earlier.
Mr. Samuel Aruwan, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, said the Kaduna State Government got initial indications from security agencies on Sunday that bandits raided the villages of Dogon Noma, Ungwan Sarki, and Ungwan Maikori in the Kajuru Local Government Area.
According to reports, the bandits entered the region on motorcycles in huge numbers, razing many homes and attacking and killing people.
Security agencies and traditional authorities in the areas had been briefing the government on the situation since the incident on Sunday, he said.
He listed the names of the 32 people killed by bandits, as well as their villages: Dogon Noman village:
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Joshua Amadi, Gona Isah, Douglas Yakubu, Phineas Joel, Tanimu Umaru, Abody Iliy, Wanzami Halidu, Dogo Aweh, Sunday Shittu, Rejoice Audu, Jedidiah Ayawa Jinkai Pius, Rebecca Ayafa, Ishaya John, Audu Danladi, Jibo Sule, Yakubu Garba, Williams Danbaba and Williams
According to him, as the government lamented the terrible killings and burning of homes in the attacked areas, a report was issued claiming that the terrorists used a helicopter to slaughter the victims of the attack.
He, on the other hand, refuted the account, claiming that, based on information gathered since Sunday, bandits assaulted the first two places, killing 31 people, before moving on to Ungwan Maikori, where they killed one person and set fire to several homes.
He said that an Air Force chopper assigned to the area (under Operation Whirl Punch) had earlier examined the first two locations and discovered burned buildings and properties on fire.
He went on to say that the bandits were intercepted and engaged by the helicopter in the previous site (Ungwan Maikori).
He said that the arrival of the air asset discouraged the bandits from attacking the village's residents after they had already killed one local and set fire to several homes.
He claimed that after a fierce battle with the robbers, numerous kidnapped victims, including an expatriate taken at a mining site, were rescued.
On hearing about the attack, Governor Nasir El-Rufa'i expressed deep regret and prayed for the souls of the victims, according to him.