The Defence Headquarters said that the Nigerian Air Force component of Operation HADARIN DAJI has killed 83 bandits while several others sustain gunshot injuries during an air interdiction at Birnin Kogo forest in Katsina state and Ajah forest in Zamfara state.
Coordinator Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. John Enenche said in a statement Wednesday that the air strikes were conducted on 24 November 2020.
He said the air interdiction missions were executed “sequel to credible Human Intelligence (HUMINT) reports as well as aerial surveillance missions that led to the identification of the two forest hideouts, which housed scores of the armed bandits along with hundreds of rustled cattle.”
According to him the Nigerian Air Force fighter jets and helicopter gunships were dispatched by the Air Component to attack the two locations, which “took turns in engaging the target areas, scoring accurate hits on the caves that were used by the bandits to shield themselves from air strikes.”
Enenche said the Military High Command has commended the troops and other security agencies operating in the North West zone for their “professionalism and urges them to remain resolute in order to eradicate all armed bandits.”
He also urged people within the affected area to “promptly report any persons with suspicious injuries to the nearest security or law enforcement agency post.”
