WorldStage Newsonline– The Defence Headquarters has said the Air Component of Operation HADARIN DAJI recorded more successes against armed bandits in the North West of the Country with the obliteration of another camp and neutralization of scores of their fighters at Birnin Kogo Forest in Katsina State.
The Coordinator Defence Media Operations, Defence Headquarters, Major General John Enenche, in a statement said the Air strikes executed by the Air Component equally resulted in the destruction of some structures at a camp in Dunya Forest also in Katsina State.
According to him, the air raids were conducted on 23 and 24 November 2020 on the heels of impeccable intelligence reports indicating that the 2 camps, with their clusters of huts, were among the locations being used by the terrorists-affiliated armed bandits to store their sophisticated weapons and plan attacks.
He said, Aerial surveillance missions also established pattern-of-life evidence of the presence of black attire-wearing terrorists at the 2 locations.
Major General Enenche, further explained that the Air Component dispatched an appropriate force package of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets and helicopter gunships, which engaged the 2 locations in successive passes, destroying portions of the camps, including their storage facilities, which were seen engulfed in flames.
He said,” HUMINT sources later confirmed that no fewer than 37 bandits were neutralized at Dunya while many more were killed at Birnin Kogo”.
In a another development, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE have continued to record more successes. The latest was yesterday 26 November 2020.
“Following credible intelligence reports on the hideout of some notorious elements who were alleged to be terrorising Abaji general area of Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State, troops of Sectors 2 and 4 swiftly mobilized to the area to flush out the bandits.
“Troops made contact with armed bandits around Asogo village who on sighting troops opened fire on them and thereafter fled into the surrounding bushes. Troops promptly returned fire thereby killing 3 while one locally made pistol and 11 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition were recovered.
“In the same vein, still on same 26 November 2020, troops of Sector 3, carried out a dawn raid on the residence of some henchmen said to be behind recent clashes between herders and farmers at Atiyagiso community in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. During the operation, troops successfully apprehended 2 suspects namely Mr Abdulkareem and Mohammed Sani who confessed their involvement in the crime following which they were handed over to the police for further action.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies will not relent until normalcy is restored to all troubled zones. Members of the public are requested to continue to provide credible information to the troops operating within their localities”.
