Air Strikes Decimate 16 Terrorists in Zamfara, Katsina
Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja
Air strikes conducted by the air component of Operation Hadarin Daji in Zamfara and Katsina States killed 16 insurgents.
THISDAY gathered that the air interdiction was conducted in various locations in Zurmi, Tsafe, Faskari and Jibia Local Government Areas in Zamfara and Katsina States.
In Zurmi LGA of Zamfara State, the air component obliterated about 16 terrorists in enclaves believed to belong to terrorist Kingpin, Dankarami.
Security sources privy to the operations, the air strikes were conducted following credible intelligence of the whereabouts of terrorist kingpin, Dankarami, known for collaborating with other kingpins in the area to carry out violent attacks on some communities in Zurmi LGA.
Footages of the air strikes revealed several terrorists on eight motorcycles as well as herds of cattle heading towards a hidden camp in the bushes which was subsequently acquired and attacked.
The aftermath of the strikes later revealed the obliteration of all the motorcycles and the decimation of at least 16 terrorists.
Similar air strikes were carried out at terrorist kingpin Ado Aliero’s enclave near Asola Mountains in Tsafe LGA of Zamfara State following information that the kingpin and his foot soldiers were responsible for recent abductions and cattle rustlings in communities within Tsafe and Faskari LGAs of Katsina State.
Mallam Kabiru Umaru, a local farmer near Tsafe, who witnessed the strikes, revealed that structures within the location were destroyed but the few surviving terrorists were observed fleeing the location after the strike.
According to Kabiru, “about an hour later, some terrorists, who returned to the location to evacuate casualties and salvage some of their belongings from the rubbles of the strikes were attacked again by aircraft of the Nigerian Air Force.”
Kabiru also commended the military for the heightened level of air strikes in recent times. He also stated that of recent, the number terrorists hibernating in the area has reduced drastically with most either killed or departing the area for fear of being bombed by NAF aircraft.
When contacted, NAF Spokesperson, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, stated that the increase in air strikes especially in the North-west were in line with the directive of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, to all air component commanders to ensure collaboration with other security agencies in order to free the entire region of terrorists and other criminal elements.
He said the air force chief expressed satisfaction with the level of successes recorded just as he enjoined the component commanders to sustain the temp
He said the air strikes were conducted from July 28 to 29, 2023.
