Attack Jets in Reconnaissance Mission Kill 38 Bandits
An attack helicopter belonging to the Nigerian military has eliminated no fewer than 17 bandits at a forest in Katsina State.
The helicopter, spotted the group of armed bandits, while conducting a night armed reconnaissance mission over Tsambre Hill and Dunya Forest in the State, it was learnt.
Coordinator of the Defence Media Operations (DMO), John Enenche, said the bandits were engaged by the helicopter leading to the neutralization of 17 of them, while some escaped with gunshot wounds.
Enenche, a Major General, in a statement yesterday, further disclosed that the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji, also neutralized scores of armed bandits in separate operations conducted in Katsina and Zamfara States from 21 to 23 December 2020.
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He said the operations in Katsina included an air strike executed on 22 December 2020, after intelligence reports indicated that a group of bandits, armed with high calibre weapons, had rustled some cattle and attacked commuters along the Batsari-Jibia Road.
According to him, the bandits, who were reportedly retreating with the stolen livestock towards Garin Labo, were tracked and located by a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) attack helicopter, as they were heading towards Runka Forest.
He added: “The helicopter unleashed heavy barrage of rocket fire on the bandits, killing no fewer than 21 of them, as later confirmed by Human Intelligence (HUMINT) sources.”
On the operations in Zamfara, Gen. Enenche, said they were conducted on 21 and 23 December 2020, sequel to credible HUMINT reports that led to the identification of the hideouts of bandits terrorizing communities in Konama District of Maru Local Government Area.
“The Air Component dispatched its attack helicopters to engage the bandits’ hideouts at Yan Uku, neutralizing several of them,” he added.
