Nigerian Air force's Successful Airstrikes Neutralize Bandits in Katsina, Borno

Nigerian Air force has reported a weekend of successful airstrikes at Yartsamiya in Katsina state and Grazah in Borno state.

A statement by Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air force, said, "The streak of successful air strikes by the Air Components of Operation Hadarin Daji and Hadin Kai continued through the weekend as terrorists were, again, denied freedom of movement aimed at targeting soft targets, especially innocent civilians.

"One of such strikes was carried out under Operation Hadarin Daji on 5 April, 2024, at a terrorist enclave located Northwest of Yartsamiya Village in Danmusa Local Government Area (LGA) of Katsina state. At the location, a set of 11 armed terrorists were sighted moving towards a mountainous area.

According to Gabkwet, Soon after, 2 separate sets of terrorists joined the first set of terrorists, and all were observed heading towards the same direction towards the mountainous high ground. The need not to let the opportunity of neutralizing the terrorists thus became imperative.

He said, "Subsequently, the terrorists were effectively engaged by NAF aircraft in several passes with several neutralized and the few survivors scampering in disarray,"

In a related development, the statement added that, "Air strikes by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai in the early hours of 6 April 2024 at Grazah in Gwoza LGA of Borno State also yielded the requisite outcome. Previous intelligence had revealed that Grazah, previously known as a hideout for terrorists, was converted into a logistics storage hub and an area for fabricating their Improvised Explosive Devices and other ammunition."

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 footages and feedback received revealing several terrorists neutralized.

These operations, carried out deep into terrorists’ enclaves, will continue as these areas are believed to aid their recruitment, training and nurturing of potential terrorists. Attacking their logistics hubs also help in reducing their ability to carry out massive attacks, especially on innocent civilians and troop’s location. The provision of timely information/intelligence by the populace has also been key to the successes recorded and would remain so if sustained.