Scores of terrorists and bandits have been killed and their camps and hideouts destroyed in coordinated airstrikes by Nigerian Air Force (NAF) component of Operation HADARIN DAJI in the Sokoto and Katsina State forests in Northwest Nigeria
Sources said that in Sokoto State, the airstrikes bombarded the Mashema, Yanfako, Gebe, and Gatawa Forests locations in Isaa and Sabon Birni Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the State.
The mission, the source noted, was achieved through air strikes executed on 5 October 2021, after series of aerial surveillance missions had indicated that the locations.
“We observed that structures and logistics items camouflaged under the dense vegetation, were being used as staging areas where some bandits from Turji and Maigona Camps and their fighters meet to plan and launch attacks.
“Accordingly, the Theatre dispatched a force package of Air Force fighter jets and helicopter gunships to engage the locations. According to local sources in the area, the attack aircraft scored devastating hits in the target areas, destroying some structures and neutralizing several of the Bandits. The fleeing Bandits survivors were seen by some locals taking refuge in a primary school in Bafarawa Village,” he said.
And in Katsina State, the source noted that the airstrikes targeted the terrorists and bandits’ hideouts in Ranch Ten (10) parts of Rugu forest bordering Kankara LGA between 30 September and 3rd October 2021.
In one instance, the camp belonging to one of the terror bandit kingpin, Gajere (SNU) was destroyed and 34 of his fighters killed.
In addition, about 20 terror bandits sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Originally published in PRNigeria