A series of airstrikes executed by the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji, have killed over 16 foot soldiers of identified terror kingpins, Ado Aliero and Dankarami in Katsina and Zamfara States.
Between July 28 and 29, 2023, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) carried out airstrikes in various locations in Zurmi, Tsafe, Faskari, and Jibia local government areas of Zamfara and Katsina States, according to Leadership News.
Specifically, in Zurmi LGA of Zamfara State, the air component killed at least 16 terrorists in enclaves believed to belong to terrorist kingpin Dankarami.
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A source privy to the operations, revealed that the strikes were conducted following credible intelligence of the whereabout of terrorist kingpin Dankarami, known for collaborating with other kingpins in the area to carry out violent attacks on some communities in Zurmi LGA.
He further revealed that footages of the airstrikes revealed several terrorists on eight motorcycles as well as herds of cattle heading towards a hidden camp in the bushes, which was subsequently acquired and attacked.
“The aftermath of the strikes later revealed the obliteration of all the motorcycles and the decimation of at least 16 terrorists,” the source revealed.
Similar airstrikes were carried out at terrorist kingpin Ado Aliero’s enclave near Asola Mountains in Tsafe LGA of Zamfara State.
The strikes followed information that the kingpin and his foot soldiers had been responsible for recent abductions and cattle rustling in communities within Tsafe and Faskari LGAs of Katsina State.
Mallam Kabiru Umaru, a local farmer near Tsafe, who witnessed the strikes revealed that structures within the location were destroyed but the few surviving terrorists were observed fleeing the location after the strikes.
According to Kabiru, “About an hour later, some terrorists who returned to the location to evacuate casualties and salvage some of their belongings from the rubbles of the strikes were attacked again by aircraft of the Nigerian Air Force.”
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He also commended the military for the heightened level of airstrikes in recent time, adding that of recent, the number terrorists hibernating in the area has reduced drastically with most either killed or departing the area for fear of being bombed by NAF aircraft.
When contacted, NAF Spokesperson, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, confirmed the airstrikes, adding that the increase in airstrikes especially in the Northwest was in line with the directive of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, to all Air Component Commanders to ensure they, alongside sister services and other security agencies, free the entire region of terrorists and other criminal elements.
“So far, the CAS has expressed satisfaction with the level of successes recorded just as he has enjoined the Component Commanders to sustain the tempo,” the NAF spokesman stated.