Air Strikes Target Terror Kingpins in Katsina, Zamfara, Borno

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

Nigerian Air Force Headquarters at the weekend said that fighter jets targeted terror kingpins in air strikes that struck terror enclaves in Katsina, Zamfara and Borno States, killing scores of insurgents.

In the North-west, the Air Component of  Operation Hadin Kai (OPHD) on November 1, 2023, conducted series of successful airstrikes in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State, targeting the hideout of a notorious terrorist kingpin, Babaru.
A war update issued by the spokesman of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said Babaru was implicated in numerous acts of terrorism and banditry across Kankara and adjacent LGAs in Katsina State.

“Notably, he was involved in the massacre of over 100 residents of Gidan Gari and Yarmai-Yadiya villages in Bakori LGA on February 2, 2023.
“The air strikes destroyed Babaru’s hideout and eliminated several terrorists though there was no confirmation if Babaru was among those neutralised”, it said.
The war update said air strikes were also carried out at the enclave of terror kingpin known as Mai Solar in Maru LGA of Zamfara State.
“The air strikes took out clusters of enclaves used as hideouts by the kingpin and his cohorts at the location.

“It was a successful strike as few survivors were observed fleeing the scene of the strike. There is no confirmation if Mai Solar was among the terrorists eliminated”, it said.

The precision air strikes by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) on November 3, 2023, also led to the elimination of several terrorists at their meeting point near Degbawa, a reclusive location within the Mandara Mountains in Goza Local Government Area of Borno State.
“The air strikes were called for after intelligence revealed the sighting of some key terrorists’ figures and their foot soldiers arriving the location for a probable meeting.

“Their gathering in large number raised concerns, thus necessitating the need for an air interdiction on the location with devastating outcome for the terrorists”, it said.

Gabkwet affirmed that an assessment of the location after the strike revealed several terrorists were indeed eliminated.
According to several sources, the particular location was carefully chosen by the terrorists to evade being easily detected, especially by NAF aircraft.
“The outcome of the strike, however, proved the terrorists wrong as their nefarious plans to meet were detected, thus leading to the success of the air strike.
“The sources also noted that this strike was a major setback for the terrorists who have, of late, been at the receiving end of the air and land components of OPHK”, he said.

There were also strong indications that the terrorists were responsible for the recent attack on some locals in Geidam on October 31, 2023 and had planned to meet to review the attack as well as plan the next line of attack on innocent civilians and other vulnerable targets.