Air strikes by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets have killed several terrorists in Katsina and Borno States.
The air strikes were conducted by the Air Components of Operation Hadarin Daji in Katsina State on April 5 and Operation Hadin Kai in Borno State on April 6.
NAF spokesperson, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, announced this in a statement on Saturday April 7.
Gabkwet said the airstrikes in Katsina State were conducted on a terrorist enclave located Northwest of Yartsamiya village in Danmusa Local Government Area.
He said: “At the location, a set of 11 armed terrorists were sighted moving towards a mountainous area. Soon after, two separate sets of terrorists joined the first set, and all were observed heading in the same direction towards the mountainous high ground.
“The need not to let the opportunity of neutralizing the terrorists thus became imperative. Subsequently, the terrorists were effectively engaged by NAF aircraft in several passes with several neutralized and the few survivors scampering in disarray.”
NAF spokesperson said the air strikes in Borno State were conducted at Grazah in Gwoza Local Government Area. He said the strikes, conducted in the early hours of April 6, yielded the desired outcome as what was obtained in Katsina State a day earlier.
According to Gabkwet, previous intelligence had revealed that Grazah was initially the terrorists’ hideouts, and later converted into a logistics storage hub and fabrication center of Improvised Explosive Devices and other ammunition.
He said: “Recent intelligence also revealed significant terrorists’ activities consistent with terrorists’ behaviour around some makeshift structures at the location.
“Consequently, air interdiction was conducted at the location with Battle Damage Assessment footage and feedback received revealing several terrorists neutralized.”
Gabkwet said air strikes on terrorist logistics hubs was significant as it would reduce their ability to carry out massive attacks, especially on innocent civilians and troop’s location.