The Nigerian military is synegizing with the authority of the Republic of Niger to block bandits from escaping through international boarder.
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar discloses Tuesday in Sokoto where he has been to oversee the planning and launch a fresh air interdiction operation launched in Sokoto on Monday, as part of Operation Hadarin Daji.
The subsidiary air interdiction operation is being conducted as part of efforts to rid the North-west of armed bandits, cattle rustlers and kidnappers under the Defence Headquarters led Operation Accord.
He said through the fresh air interdiction operation, Nigerian Air Force has destroyed some bandits’ camps and killed several others.
Air Marshal Abubakar said he is satisfied with “what has been achieved in the day and night missions executed to smoke out the bandits from their camps within the Kagara Forest area of Sokoto state,” adding that, while sustaining the air offensive, the Nigerian Air Force worked closely with ground troops to ensure that the armed bandits that escape the aerial bombardments are mopped up on the ground.
He said since the Kagara Forest extends to Niger Republic, there was also ongoing liaison with the Nigerien Authorities to ensure that the bandits do not escape through the international borders.
Air Marshall Abubakar said the massive deployment of air assets to Sokoto state was to add impetus to operations in the state and its environs with a view to bringing the spate of criminal activities to a decisive end.
“With the number of platforms deployed for operations in Sokoto as well as the ones operating in Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna and Niger states, you can be assured that all available resources have been mobilized to ensure that our society is secured and our people can go about their businesses without fear,” he said.
The CAS assured the people of Sokoto state and Nigerian of the NAF commitment to ensuring a secured and stable environment.
He urged people to play their role in ensuring a peaceful environment.
“Security and development are two sides of the same coin and I am very happy with what the State Government is doing in order to enhance development of communities so that people can see that they have a stake in the system. With what we are doing and what State Governments are doing, the problem of armed banditry will soon fizzle out,” he said.
