Scores killed as NAF fighter jet bombs insurgents’ stronghold in Zamfara
operations in Zamfara State have killed scores of bandits terrorising
the people of the state.
The bandits were killed in Sububu Forest, Birni Magaji and Rugu Forest
following air strikes and helicopter gunship attacks on the stronghold
of the terrorists.
NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore
Ibikunle Daramola, who made this known in a statement, said that the
air interdictions and reconnaissance missions against the bandits were
carried out in quick succession between August 9 and 11.
Daramola, in the statement, said: "The Nigerian Air Force Air Task
Force (ATF) for Operation Diran Mikiya has notched up another series
of successful operations against armed bandits in the northwest of the
country.
"The successes were recorded in recent air interdiction and armed
reconnaissance missions conducted from 9 to 11 August, 2018, resulting
in the neutralisation of armed bandits in Sububu Forest, Birnin Magaji
and Rugu Forest in Zamfara State.
"The attack at Sububu Forestwas executed in the afternoon of August 9,
2018, following the discovery of a bandits' hideout within the forest.
Earlier in the morning on the same day, the ATF had conducted a
coordinated clearance operation involving NAF Special Forces at a
suspected armed bandits' camp on the outskirts of Galadi in the
northwest of Zamfara State. During this operation, the bandits were
discovered to have vacated the camp and dispersed into the nearby
Sububu Forest.
"Consequently, the ATF dispatched a combat aircraft for armed
reconnaissance to seek out and destroy the bandits. The aircraft
subsequently spotted a large number of bandits within the forest and
neutralized them.
"Similarly, on August 10, 2018, a combat helicopter on a
reconnaissance mission spotted a group of bandits, armed with
automatic weapons and mounted on motorcycles, at a location about 6km
northeast of Birnin Magaji in the eastern part of Zamfara State.
"From all indications, the bandits were advancing for an attack on
Birnin Magaji. Accordingly, another helicopter gunship was scrambled
to provide additional combat support. Both helicopters effectively
engaged the bandits and neutralised many of them.
"Furthermore, on August 11, 2018, the ATF conducted another successful
attack that neutralised bandits at RuguForest. The mission was
initiated based on credible intelligence that a location on the
fringes of Rugu Forestnear Ajia, in the eastern part of Zamfara State,
was being used by the bandits as a logistics staging area for the
supply of arms and ammunition. Accordingly, a fighter aircraft and
helicopter gunship were dispatched to attack the location within the
forest. Upon arrival over the objective, several bandits were seen on
motorcycles. They were attacked and neutralised in successive strikes
by the two aircraft.
"Operation Diran Mikiya, which commenced on July 31, 2018, is an
intensive air operation aimed at locating and neutralising armed
bandits with a view to stopping killings, cattle rustling and other
criminal activities in the North-West. The NAF continues to solicit
useful information from the general populace to facilitate the success
of the operation."
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