The Air Component of Operation Thunder Strike has neutralized several armed bandits along the Abuja-Kaduna Highway, according to Defence Headquarters.

Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. John Enenche made this disclosure in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

The statement read: “The first wave of the Air Component’s airstrikes which involved six Nigerian Air Force aircraft undertaking five missions in a total of 13 sorties, commenced at dawn and targeted the cluster of huts housing the bandits.

“The attack aircraft hit some of the target structures and neutralized some of the bandits.

“The second wave of attacks was executed by NAF helicopter gunships which, while continuing to engage the bandits’ location, also provided close air support to the land component as they advanced from Kagarko via Kuku into the bandits’ enclave.

“This paved the way for the ground troops to overrun and destroy the camp without effective resistance from the bandits.”