- Deploys NAF Alpha Jet, MI 171, Agusta 109 strike helicopters in the airstrikes
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has ended a three-day bombardment of the camps and hideouts of camps in Northwest region of the country.
The special mission, handled by the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji, commenced on the evening of Monday and was executed in liaison with the Nigerian Army.
Sources said that the ground troops formed blocking forces around the targeted areas of the forests along the region.
In the operation, the airstrikes focused on locations with high concentration of bandits such as South of Dansadau town and North of Kwiambana Forest Reserves in Zamfara State.
And sources noted that the bombardment was triggered on Monday when NAF surveillance platforms overhead the targeted locations locked on the bandits riding on bikes and moving into the Kwiambana Forest Reserves.
Tracking their movement diligently, the NAF platforms were led to an extensive and well concealed camps with numerous huts.
The NAF then deployed the Alpha Jet, MI 171, Agusta 109 strike helicopters to obliterate the hideouts and camps of the bandits.
Efforts to reach the Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, for confirmation was futile as he could not be reached as at press time.
But a competent source, which confirmed the “air offensive action against bandits in North West Nigeria,” noted that it was “focused on locations with high concentration of bandits such as South of Dansadau town and North of Kwiambana Forest Reserves in Zamfara State.
“Accordingly, using a mix of NAF Alpha Jet, MI 171 and Agusta 109 strike helicopters, bombardment of the camps commenced on the evening of 2 August 2021 in liaison with ground troops forming blocking forces around the targeted areas of the forest.
“Through these coordinated attacks, over 78 bandits were neutralized, and their camps destroyed. Informants and locals in the general vicinity also confirmed an exodus of surviving bandits from the forest.
“Further ISR by the air component confirmed a total abandonment of the camp by the surviving bandits.”
Meanwhile, the NAF 404 Force Protection Group stationed in Kaduna, on 4 August 2021 arrested a 48-year-old bandits’ logistics runner named, Aminu Saminu, around the Kaduna International Airport.
A source noted that during interrogation, the bandits’ supplier revealed that he “usually disguise as a charcoal businessman to purchase food and other items for bandits at Bamba Village in Igabi Local Government Area (West of Kaduna International Airport).
“Useful information by the runner was availed to the Air Component that has engineered focus around the Kaduna International Airport environment and other areas with high bandits’ concentration.”