About 22 bandits have been neutralised by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in Batsari and Jibia local government areas of Katsina State.
The terrorists, mostly the foot soldiers of a deceased bandit kingpin, Abdulkareem Boss, were neutralized on Monday, by the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji.
Credible military sources told a news agency, PRNigeria, that the NAF airstrikes were executed on the heels of credible intelligence reports that the terrorists were responsible for several abductions and violent attacks on some communities within Kankara LGA of the State.
One of the sources, who was involved in the planning of the NAF onslaught, said: “In the same vein, intelligence reports at SOLA POI II uncovered a large number of terrorists hibernating at the location, with the aim of kidnapping and attacking commuters along Jibia-Katsina road.
“Subsequently, the Air Component of OPHD conducted waves of air interdiction missions which acquired the targets in multiple passes killing several terrorists and destroying their structures and hideouts.”
Recall that airstrikes by a NAF fighter jet had on August 6, 2022 eliminated a notorious terrorist Commander, Alhaji Abdulkareem Lawal a.k.a Kareem Boss, and some of his foot soldiers at Ruga Forest in the State.
Late Abdulkareem Boss was alleged to have masterminded the killing of a Nigerian Police Area Commander in Dutsinma LGA on July 5, 2022, amidst several other atrocities.
When contacted, NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, confirmed the recent airstrikes carried out on Monday, but refused to give details of the operations.
He, however, noted that the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has directed all Air Component Commanders to jointly synergize their efforts with other security agencies as they bring to bear Airforce’s fire power on all terrorists’ targets and their enclaves.
