NAF Kills 20 Armed Bandits in Zamfara Air Strikes

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jet and an attack helicopter yesterday carried out air strikes, killing 20 armed bandits near Rugu Forest in Zamfara State.

The bombardment also reportedly destroyed the camp of a major kidnap kingpin, Alhaji Lawal, resulting in the death of the 20 fighters.

An update by NAF’s Director of Public Relations, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said the air interdiction followed intelligence report that indicated that the notorious kidnapper was camped in a settlement near Rugu Forest where he kept his logistic supplies.

“The Air Task Force (ATF) for Operation Diran Mikiya has recorded a major success against armed bandits in Zamfara State by destroying the camp of a major kingpin, Alhaji Lawal, and neutralising up to 20 of his fighters near Rugu Forest in Zamfara State.

“This was accomplished in a dawn attack executed after credible intelligence indicated that the notorious kingpin was camped, along with dozens of his fighters, at a settlement about 4 kilometres West of Rugu Forest, where he keeps his logistics supplies, coordinates operations and launches attacks against security forces as well as innocent civilians”, he said.

He said the air strikes recorded direct hits on the logistics base of the bandits.

“Consequently, following detailed confirmatory Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, the ATF dispatched one Alpha Jet and an attack helicopter to strike the camp.

“The Alpha Jet strikes recorded direct hits on the camp destroying the armed bandits’ structures, fuel storage containers, arms, explosives and other logistics supplies, which were seen engulfed in flames.

“The attack helicopter carried out mop-up attacks on the target. No fewer than 20 armed bandits were neutralised in the air strikes”, he said.