At least, 11 bandits were eliminated in Katsina State yesterday by the Air Task Force of the Nigerian military, PRNigeria reports.
It was gathered that two fighter and attack jets of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) raided the bandits’ camp at Garin Magaji and Gariyal villages, in the Batsari local government area of the State.
A military source told PRNigeria that aggressive bombardments of the NAF jets at the weekend also led to the destruction of houses, suspected to be hideouts of the criminals.
“Those killed were members of the bandits’ camp led by one Audu Lunkai,” he said.
Similarly, a fighter jet from the Nigerian Airforce (NAF) has eliminated armed bandits at a school building in Shinkafi Local Government Council of Zamfara State on Sunday.
The jet also conducted air offensives around Zangon Dammaka and Jajaye areas where Kachalla Haru and his loyalists hibernated.
An intelligence operative involved in the joint military operation in the Zamfara State told PRNigeria that all the operations at the weekend were successful.
“On 29 August 2921, at about 2.00pm, credible intelligence was received that over 100 armed bandits had surrounded a school building at Gidan Rijiya village of Galadi, Shinkafi LGA, Zamfara State.
“A NAF Alpha Jet under Operation Hadarin Daji was subsequently dispatched to conduct an assault on the location. The aftermath of the assault strike killed scores of bandits and the destruction of their weapons.
“The aircraft also carried out strikes on Halilu Tubali’s enclave in Sububu forest. All the operations were successful without collateral damages except on a particular building.”
While the number of casualties is unknown, a local source told PRNigeria that more than 50 bandits could have been eliminated from the numbers of motorcycles destroyed at Gidan Rijiya Village.
Meanwhile, an attempt to reach the spokesperson of the Nigerian Airforce, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet proved abortive as his phone was not connecting.