Nigerian Air Force kills 200 bandits in Katsina, Zamfara

By Augustine Osayande PhD

The Air Component of Operation HADARIN DAJI has neutralized close to 200 armed bandits in multiple air strikes conducted at Ibrahim Mai’Bai’s Camp in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State and Kurmin Kura in Zurmi LGA of Zamfara State.

Confirming the report, Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Defence Headquarters, Major General John Enenche, said the air strikes were executed after a series of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions led to the confirmation that the 2 locations were being used as hideouts for some notorious armed bandit leaders while also serving as collection points for rustled cattle.

The Coordinator Defence Media Operations said that Air Component, employing Nigerian Air Force ground attack aircraft and helicopter gunships, engaged the 2 locations in multiple passes, destroying the makeshift structures in the camps as well as killing the bandit leaders and their fighters.

Enenche stated  that Human Intelligence (HUMINT) sources later confirmed that close to 200 armed bandits were killed in the air strikes at the target locations.

He said the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), commended the Air Component of Operation HADARIN DAJI for their professionalism and directs them to remain resolute towards eradicating all armed bandits thus achieving directives of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of restoring normalcy in the North West and North Central Zones of the Country.

He said the CAS had also directed that additional assets be deployed to cover Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa and Kogi States to frustrate any attempt of the bandits to relocate to adjoining States.